WNBA All-Star Highlights: Ionescu Shines in 3-Point Contest
Caitlin Clark missed the WNBA All-Star Game, but Sabrina Ionescu stole the spotlight by winning the 3-point contest once again. This marks her second victory in this event.
Ionescu, the Liberty’s standout guard, showcased an impressive performance. In the final round, she outperformed defending champion Alisha Gray by a significant margin, scoring 30 points. Reflecting on the event, Ionescu remarked, “It was fun. I was really excited for her. We were chatting about it before we came out.” Their camaraderie seemed to add to the excitement of the competition.
Although Ionescu didn’t surpass her own record of 37 points set two years ago, her 30 points this time are tied as the second highest in the contest’s history, equaling Ally Quigley’s record. Quigley remains the only player to have won the contest multiple times.
Last year, Ionescu skipped the All-Star 3-point contest to focus on preparations for the Olympics. However, she did participate in a special shootout against Steph Curry in Indianapolis, though she didn’t win that match.
In related news, Ionescu shared her joy with Steph Curry over winning the trophy. “I called Steph and showed off the trophy,” she said, which just goes to show how connected these athletes are beyond the court.
Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull was another highlight, stepping in for her injured teammate Kate Linklark. Hull ended up scoring 20 points and riled up the crowd in the process.
Another notable achievement was Ionescu’s teammate, Natasha Cloud, winning the skills competition. Cloud had an impressive time through the obstacle course, finishing in 36.4 seconds, despite struggling with three shots from the corner.
The earnings from these events were notable, too. Cloud received $55,000 from AFLAC as part of a partnership with WNBAPA, along with $2,575 from the league. Ionescu’s total win amounted to $60,000 from AFLAC, plus her league earnings. This was Cloud’s first time participating in All-Star weekend during her 11-year career, marking a significant moment for her.
