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Ionescu Denies Declining 3-Point Contest, Omitted From All-Star

7/23/2026

32 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Ionescu Denies Contest

Sabrina Ionescu denied a July 22, 2026 report that she declined the 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest, saying she never received an invitation.
She set a 37-point record in 2023 and won the 2025 contest.
Injuries limited her, causing her to miss half the Liberty’s games and average 13.8 points on 28.7 percent shooting, her lowest since 2021.
The league omitted Ionescu from the 2026 All-Star Game, ending her four-year selection streak.

Summary

Clark Captains All-Star

Clark received 1,023,321 votes, the second-most, and will captain Team Spoon in the All-Star Game.
The contest will feature shooters Azzi Fudd, Marina Mabrey, Rhyne Howard, Natisha Hiedeman, Janelle Salaün and Bridget Carleton.
ESPN will broadcast it live on Friday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET from Wintrust Arena.
Seattle Storm guard Flau’jae Johnson will serve as player host, handling social media and on-court duties.

History

Historical Context

The WNBA’s All-Star showcase began in 1999 at Madison Square Garden, where a sold-out crowd of 19,000 saw the West defeat the East 79–61 and Lisa Leslie earn MVP honors. Since the 2018 shift to fan-voted captains drafting teams, voting disputes have resurfaced, exemplified by Sabrina Ionescu’s contested 2026 absence and Caitlin Clark’s 1,023,321 fan votes.

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Ionescu Denies Contest

Sabrina Ionescu denied a July 22, 2026 report that she declined the 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest, saying she never received an invitation.
She set a 37-point record in 2023 and won the 2025 contest.
Injuries limited her, causing her to miss half the Liberty’s games and average 13.8 points on 28.7 percent shooting, her lowest since 2021.
The league omitted Ionescu from the 2026 All-Star Game, ending her four-year selection streak.

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