In the recent WNBA All-Star game, Sabrina Ionescu emerged as the victor in the 3-point contest, marking her second career win in this event. Filling in for the absent Caitlin Clark, who was sidelined due to a right groin injury, Ionescu showcased her skills with an impressive performance, scoring 30 points in the final round, thereby defeating defending champion Allisha Gray. Ionescu, a star guard for the New York Liberty, expressed her enthusiasm about participating alongside fellow competitors, noting the camaraderie and excitement surrounding the event. Although her score was lower than her remarkable record of 37 points achieved two years ago, it equaled the second-highest score ever in the contest, alongside Allie Quigley, the only player with multiple wins in this category.
Ionescu’s past participation in the contest was absent last year as she prepared for the Olympics; however, she made a memorable appearance in the NBA All-Star festivities, competing against renowned player Steph Curry in a special shootout. Though she did not win that competition, her recent success in Indianapolis marked a significant comeback as she claimed victory in the 3-point contest. Celebrating her win, Ionescu humorously mentioned how she called Curry to show him her trophy, highlighting the friendly competition and camaraderie present among the athletes.
Adding to the excitement of the All-Star weekend, Lexie Hull of the Indiana Fever finished fourth in the 3-point contest, scoring 20 points in her performance. Clark, unable to compete due to injury, still played a supportive role by energizing the crowd from the sidelines, cheering for Hull during her turn. This showed a continued spirit of teamwork and support among players, regardless of individual competition.
Furthermore, Ionescu’s Liberty teammate Natasha Cloud triumphed in the skills competition, marking her first appearance in an All-Star weekend event after 11 years in the league. Cloud excelled in the obstacle course, beating the previous fastest time set by Seattle’s Erica Wheeler in the finals, running the course in 36.4 seconds. Despite missing all three of her shots from the corner during the finals, her quick maneuvering throughout the course underscored her versatility and skill as a player.
With the win in the skills contest, Cloud also earned significant prize money, receiving $55,000 from Aflac as part of an agreement with the WNBAPA in addition to $2,575 from the league for her performance. Both Ionescu and Cloud demonstrated their immense talent and competitive spirit, fostering an exhilarating atmosphere during the All-Star weekend events.
Overall, the WNBA All-Star game weekend was filled with thrilling performances and high energy, showcasing the remarkable skills of its athletes. The event underscored the growth of women’s sports and the continued commitment of players to not only excel in their individual competitions, but to support one another in a unified celebration of basketball talent and camaraderie.
