Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu to Skip 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend, Sources Reveal

SAN FRANCISCO — Fans will not see a rematch between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu after all.

Last year in Indianapolis, the two athletes lit up All-Star Saturday night with an unprecedented 3-point shootout, which Curry barely won. However, according to league sources cited by The Athletic, they will not be facing off again during this weekend’s celebrations in San Francisco.

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass issued a statement explaining, “We were unable to develop a plan that would elevate last year’s memorable event. Everyone agreed to forgo a rematch and instead, we’ll focus on the new format set for All-Star Sunday.”

Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that both Curry and Ionescu were not keen on a rematch. They preferred to broaden the competition by including WNBA star Caitlin Clark and possibly Curry’s former teammate Klay Thompson. However, after Clark declined to participate, expressing her desire to compete in her first 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star event in Indianapolis this summer, hopes for a mixed-gender showdown dwindled significantly.

NBA officials explored the idea of reviving the Curry-Ionescu contest as recently as Wednesday, according to multiple sources, but were unable to secure agreement from both sides. There was also consideration of scheduling the competition during a break in the revamped All-Star Game on Sunday, but that idea did not gain traction.

This turn of events comes as a surprise, especially in light of previous remarks made by both stars and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who hinted at a rematch given Curry’s and Ionescu’s local connections. As the greatest shooter in league history and the face of the Golden State Warriors, Curry serves as a de facto ambassador for All-Star Weekend. Meanwhile, Ionescu, a standout player for the New York Liberty, hails from Walnut Creek, California, in the Bay Area. Both athletes had teased a rematch following Curry’s narrow victory last year, and Silver had indicated they would go head-to-head in this year’s event.

In their thrilling contest last year, Curry scored 29 points compared to Ionescu’s 26, making it a highlight that overshadowed the league’s standard 3-point contest. Speaking during a media session in Mexico City last November, Silver expressed his enthusiasm about the excitement generated by Curry and Ionescu.

“They know they’re going to do this again,” Silver mentioned. “They can’t wait for it. In fact, they even suggested right after last year’s competition that they need more than one round. So we’re planning for that.”

Earlier this month, Ionescu shared with USA Today that she would attend All-Star Weekend but was uncertain if she would face Curry on the court.

“Whether it happens this year or later, we still have plenty of basketball ahead, so we’ll definitely get the chance,” she noted. “It’s still up in the air. But I’m excited to be back in the Bay Area; my family can’t wait to welcome me home.”

Although Curry has clinched the NBA’s regular 3-point contest title twice, he will not compete this Saturday. He is set to participate in the new All-Star tournament representing Shaquille O’Neal’s team alongside stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

The league will feature its skills challenge, traditional 3-point shootout, and dunk contest on Saturday night.