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The lineup for this year’s WNBA All-Star 3-point title has been a talking constituent successful nan sports world since it was announced. New York Liberty defender Sabrina Ionescu was among nan astir notable players absent from nan yearly competition.
Ionescu addressed nan speculation up of Wednesday’s Liberty-Sky matchup, pushing backmost against reports that she chose not to participate successful this weekend’s WNBA 3-point title successful Chicago. "I can't diminution an connection I ne'er sewage officially invited to. So was beautiful amazed to spot that. Never sewage invited," nan defending 3-point title champion told reporters during her pregame media availability.
Caitlin Clark and Kayla McBride were besides among nan high-profile stars who reportedly declined invitations to nan competition.
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New York Liberty defender Sabrina Ionescu competing successful nan Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest connected July 18, 2025, astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Indiana. (Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
"Whether it's against Steph Curry aliases successful nan W, I ever spell retired and effort and hit my record, each azygous clip I've gone out." Ionescu has won nan 3-point title twice, highlighted by her record-setting 37-point capacity successful 2023.
"I conscionable benignant of wanted to group nan grounds straight," she continued. "Like that was conscionable false, but I'm really excited for nan participants successful it, and evidently there's going to beryllium a caller winner, truthful I'm excited to spot who wins."
Ionescu later referenced her erstwhile 3-point showdown pinch Stephen Curry erstwhile asked a follow-up astir nan issue, "Maybe I'll do it pinch Steph again astatine NBA All-Star and get a really bully charismatic invite."
New York Liberty defender Sabrina Ionescu celebrates aft winning nan WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest connected July 18, 2025 astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Indiana. (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)
The confirmed database of 3-point title participants includes: Dallas' Azzi Fudd, Atlanta's Rhyne Howard, Golden State's Janelle Salaün, Portland's Bridget Carleton, Toronto's Marina Mabrey and Seattle's Natisha Hiedeman. Howard and Mabrey are nan only players successful that group pinch anterior 3-point title acquisition astatine All-Star weekend.
Earlier this week, Ionescu refuted a study that she had opted retired of this year’s festivities, commenting "lies" nether a since-deleted Bleacher Report Instagram post. McBride besides weighed successful via societal media, saying her supplier had texted her astir nan arena successful nan 48 hours earlier her Instagram Story post, but that nary general invitation ever came.
"Posting things for illustration I'm acrophobic of shooting fume is weird and if you didn't perceive it from maine prob shouldn't judge it," McBride wrote. "We should attraction connected nan awesome shooters successful it already!!! Because there's immoderate killas successful there."
New York Liberty defender Sabrina Ionescu competes successful nan WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest during nan 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star play astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Indiana, connected July 18, 2025. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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Despite dealing pinch an ankle wounded early this season, Ionescu entered Wednesday night’s crippled averaging 13.8 points per crippled complete 14 appearances.
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Chantz Martin is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
