Talk about a messy lead-up to All-Star Weekend! The WNBA 3-Point Contest on Friday night just dropped its list of competitors, and while our own Seattle Storm’s Natisha Hiedeman is in the mix for her debut, the league is in an absolute frenzy over who *isn’t* there, and why. The drama around this year’s invites is something else, and it makes you wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes with these All-Star events.
The Invite Drama That Blew Up The WNBA
Alright, so here’s the deal. The official lineup for Friday night’s contest features Bridget Carleton from the Portland Fire, Azzi Fudd representing the Dallas Wings, our very own Natisha Hiedeman from the Seattle Storm, Rhyne Howard from the Atlanta Dream, Marina Mabrey from the Toronto Tempo, and Janelle Salaün for the Golden State Valkyries. Pretty solid group, right? But the real talk is about the stars who were supposedly invited but “declined.” USA Today’s Meghan L. Hall reported that two-time and defending champ Sabrina Ionescu, along with Kayla McBride and Caitlin Clark, all said no thanks.
But then things got wild. Ionescu, who has absolutely dominated this contest before, quickly shot back on Instagram and then explained it before her New York Liberty’s final pre-All-Star break game: she “can’t decline an offer I never officially got invited to.” Mic drop! McBride, a three-time participant who finished second back in 2018 and 2019, wasn’t having it either. She hit up Instagram, too, spilling the tea that her agent got a “half ass invite to the 3 pt contest through my agent in a text randomly 48 hours ago … not officially.” Seriously? That’s not how you invite a champion! It’s an absolute mess, and it casts a huge shadow over the whole thing.
So, Who’s Actually Gonna Win This Thing?
Amidst all that drama, we still have a contest to look forward to, and some serious sharpshooters are stepping up. Our Storm’s Natisha Hiedeman, along with Azzi Fudd, Bridget Carleton, and Janelle Salaün, are all making their debuts. Rhyne Howard and Marina Mabrey are back for their second go; Howard made it to the final round and finished third as a rookie in 2022, and Mabrey snagged sixth place in 2024. They’ve got experience, but will it be enough?
When it comes to picking a favorite, Azzi Fudd from the Dallas Wings is getting a lot of buzz. The top experts are saying she’s the one to watch. Why? Because the greatest 3-Point Contest champions in WNBA history, like four-time winner Allie Quigley and two-time winner and single-round record holder Sabrina Ionescu, crushed it with their consistent, almost rhythmic shooting. They hit a zone, replicating shot after shot around the arc. Fudd seems built for that exact kind of performance. She’s got that uncanny ability to get into a rhythm, and it’s not a stretch to think she could follow in their footsteps and really capture that crown.
It’s going to be wild to see if Fudd can live up to the hype, especially with all the noise off the court. But for us here in the Emerald City, we’ll be locked in on Natisha Hiedeman in her debut. Let’s hope she brings that Seattle swagger to the arc on Friday night! On the regular season front, the Storm just dropped a tough one, 86-76, to the Minnesota Lynx. Time to dust off and get back at it. Go Storm!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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