Caitlin Clark and her fellow 3-point specialist, Sabrina Ionescu, are not participating in the WNBA’s 3-point contest during All-Star weekend. If you’re here, you’re probably wondering one thing: WHY NOT?!
The answer is very simple. They both declined. YEP. They both said no.
Per Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press, both athletes were invited but opted not to participate. Ionescu is on the U.S. women’s national team and is preparing for the Olympics. Feinberg did not list the reasoning regarding Caitlin, but it’s not inconceivable to assume that it’s likely for rest. She’s been playing basketball nearly nonstop since last year, and per her own admission, she needs “to not” pick up a ball during the Olympic break.
Something else to consider is that Caitlin wants WNBA All-Star weekend to be about every player there. As she previously mentioned, She doesn’t want the focus to be on just her or her fellow All-Star rookie, Angel Reese.
The @WNBA confirmed that @sabrina_i20 and @CaitlinClark22 were invited for 3-point contest and declined participating. Ionescu is taking part in the Olympic camp which is getting ready for the Paris Games.
— Doug Feinberg (@DougFeinberg) July 18, 2024
UPDATE: Caitlin Clark confirms that she is out of the contest so she can rest. “I’ve been playing basketball for a year straight,” she told media during AllStar weekend. “Like it’s not an easy thing to just show up to and shoot off of a rack.”
When it comes to not participating in the 3-point contest, Caitlin Clark says it’s to prioritize rest through the busy weekend: pic.twitter.com/XiHD82UKHD
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) July 19, 2024
