Sabrina Ionescu, the two-time WNBA 3-point contest champion, went straight to the mic this week, shutting down a report that claimed she declined an invitation to the 2026 competition. Ionescu flat out told reporters Wednesday that she “saw [the report] yesterday” and was “pretty surprised to see that” because she “never got invited” in the first place. This isn’t just a minor clarification; it totally flips the script on what ESPN had reported the day before.
The Record-Setter Sets the Record Straight
Ionescu didn’t pull any punches, stating, “I can’t decline an offer I never got officially invited to.” That quote is fire, right? She continued, “That was just false.” This woman loves to compete, saying she always tries to beat her own record, whether it’s “against Steph Curry or in the W.” Seriously, this is the player who absolutely shredded the record books in 2023, hitting an insane 37 points, which is both a WNBA and NBA record. We’re talking 25 of 27 shots made, with a mind-boggling 20 in a row. She also duked it out with Stephen Curry himself in the “Stephen vs. Sabrina” shootout back in 2024. For a player with that kind of competitive fire and a history of dominating this event, the idea she’d simply decline an invite seemed wild. Now we know why: it wasn’t even on the table.
Behind the Scenes Drama: Clark, McBride, and Missing Invites
It turns out Ionescu wasn’t the only star caught up in this messy narrative. ESPN’s initial report also named Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride as players who declined invites. For Clark, it’s a bit murky whether she even got an invite this time. WNBA fans have been hyped for an Ionescu vs. Clark showdown for ages, especially since Clark joined the league in 2024 as the leading scorer in NCAA Division I history. She declined as a rookie, then missed last year’s contest and All-Star Game due to a groin injury. It’s a bummer for fans who want to see her shine.
Then there’s McBride, the league’s active leader in career 3-pointers with 796. She didn’t mince words either, saying she got a “half ass invite” through a text from her agent, not an official one. She took to Instagram, calling out the “weird” chatter about her being “afraid of shooting smoke,” and basically told everyone to focus on the awesome shooters who *are* in the contest. So, it sounds like the WNBA’s invite process for this year’s 3-point contest needs a serious once-over.
Who’s Stepping Up and What’s Next?
Despite the swirling controversy around who was invited and who wasn’t, the 3-point contest will still go down, and we’ve got some serious talent ready to light it up. With Ionescu, Clark, and McBride out, keep an eye on players like No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd and Marina Mabrey, who currently leads the league in 3-pointers made this season. These athletes are ready to put on a show. It’s going to be wild to see who comes out on top and takes home the title, especially with all this drama swirling around the lead-up to the big event.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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