Ionescu denies declining WNBA 3-point contest invite
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- Sabrina Ionescu denied an ESPN report that she declined the 2026 WNBA 3-point contest, telling reporters Wednesday: 'I can't decline an offer I never got officially invited to.'
- ESPN reported Tuesday that Ionescu, Caitlin Clark, and Kayla McBride all declined invitations to the contest.
- Kayla McBride, the WNBA's active career 3-point leader with 796 made, backed Ionescu's pushback, saying she 'received a half ass invite' via text from her agent 48 hours before clarifying on Instagram.
- Ionescu, a two-time 3-point contest winner, set the all-time WNBA and NBA record with a score of 37 in 2023, making 25 of 27 shots including 20 in a row, and also faced Stephen Curry in the 2024 NBA All-Star shootout.
- Caitlin Clark's status remains unclear — the source notes it is unknown whether the Fever guard received an invite at all, despite ESPN including her among those who declined.
- The 2026 contest participants include No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd (Dallas Wings) and league 3-point leader Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo), competing Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Why it matters: ESPN's reporting that three stars 'declined' the contest is contradicted by two of the three named players, exposing a sourcing gap: Ionescu says no formal invite arrived, and McBride says hers came 48 hours before via a casual text — raising questions about whether the WNBA is even formally recruiting top talent for its showcase event.
