Top WNBA Stars Skip This Year's All‑Star 3‑Point Shootout

The WNBA All‑Star festivities are just around the corner, but the spotlight on the Saturday night 3‑point shootout will be a little dimmer. According to an ESPN source cited by reporter Alexa Philippou, three of the game’s biggest names have politely declined the invite.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu, and Minnesota Lynx forward Kayla McBride all said ‘no thanks’ to the competition. Their decision was confirmed just after the league announced the six players who will actually take part: Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd, Toronto Tempo’s Marina Mabrey, Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard, Seattle Storm’s Natisha Hiedeman, Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaun and Portland Fire’s Bridget Carleton.

Clark and Ionescu are no strangers to All‑Star hype. Clark is headed into her third straight All‑Star Game, while Ionescu has already earned a spot in four out of the five contests she’s been eligible for since joining the league in 2020. Neither will be on the court for the All‑Star Game itself—Liberty will be represented by Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones—but fans had hoped to see them showcase their shooting range on Friday night.

Statistically, the two are still among the league’s most prolific deep shooters. McBride sits fourth overall in average 3‑pointers made per game (2.6), and Clark is right behind her at 2.5 per contest. Clark has been fighting her way back into the Fever’s rotation after a nagging back issue, highlighted by a jaw‑dropping 45‑point, 10‑assist performance against Seattle. Ionescu, meanwhile, has been limited by an ankle sprain and lingering back soreness, averaging 1.8 triples in the 14 games she’s managed this season. She was the defending champion, having made 11 straight shots to win last year’s contest – a victory she celebrated by donating half her prize money to runner‑up Sonia Citron and the other half to her SI20 Foundation.

While the absence of those three marquee names is a disappointment, the roster that remains promises a fresh look at the league’s emerging talent. Rookie sensation Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, will be taking her first swing at the contest, flanked by seasoned All‑Stars Marina Mabrey and Rhyne Howard. Their performances could very well signal the next wave of sharpshooters in the WNBA.

The 3‑point contest will kick off alongside the Shooting Stars competition on Friday, July 24, with the All‑Star Game itself slated for Saturday, July 25 at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena. Fans can still expect plenty of fireworks, even if a few of the league’s brightest stars are sitting this one out.