Caitlin Clark won’t be participating in NBA All-Star Weekend’s three-point contest, according to her representatives at Excel Sports. It was previously reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania that Clark may join forces with Sabrina Ionescu to compete in a three-point contest against Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, building off of last season’s successful Steph vs. Sabrina three-point contest.
But, the decision to forego the contest is not rooted in a lack of desire to participate in such a competition — rather, it stems from the fact she wants the competition to take place at WNBA All-Star weekend instead, which will take place on July 18 and 19 in Indianapolis.
“Caitlin will not be at NBA All-Star,” her representatives said in a statement to The Athletic. “She wants her first 3-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis this summer.”
Ionescu told reporters during an Unrivaled media availability that she will be in San Francisco for NBA All-Star Weekend next month, but declined to share details about whether or not she’ll be participating in specific events. NBA All-Star will take place from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16. Last year, Ionescu competed against Curry in a three-point competition that Curry narrowly won. The evening’s television audience peaked at 5.4 million, during the two sharpshooter’s competition.
Clark’s participation would have likely elevated the event to further heights, given her enormous popularity both in the U.S. and abroad. But, her decision to sit out — and instead bring that attention to WNBA All-Star Weekend in front of her Indiana Fever fans — makes perfect sense. Everywhere Clark has gone, she’s brought eyeballs with her — whether that’s golf competitions, collegiate games, or WNBA preseason action.
With Clark as the headliner, the 2024 WNBA All-Star peaked at just over 4 million viewers, crushing a previous record of 1.44 million set in 2003. If she can persuade an NBA star like Curry to come to WNBA All-Star and participate in such a shooting event, she’ll only be further elevating the league that she’s a part of.
Last season, both Ionescu and Clark declined to participate in the three-point contest at 2024 WNBA All-Star in Phoenix. If both agree to compete in 2025 — and even bring some NBA star talent with them — it would undoubtedly draw in additional viewership for WNBA All-Star. That would also give Clark’s fans in Indiana a chance to see her debut in the highly-anticipated competition.
It would have been a massive win for the NBA had Clark agreed to come to San Francisco next month and join forces with Ionescu. But, her stated priority is performing at her league’s All-Star — a decision that will only further uplift the league she’s already been uplifting for the past year.
