Sabrina Ionescu Calls Out WNBA For Claiming Liberty Star Declined 3-Point Contest

The WNBA claimed that Sabrina Ionescu, Caitlin Clark, and Kayla McBride had declined invitations to the 3-point contest this year.

Sabrina Ionescu Calls Out WNBA For Claiming Liberty Star Declined 3-Point Contest

Sabrina Ionescu exposed WNBA's 'lies' (Image via FirstSportz)

Heading into the 2026 WNBA All-Star weekend, fans expected that not only would Sabrina Ionescu defend her 3-point contest crown, but the league would finally bring in Caitlin Clark and the other better shooters from this season to challenge her.

That should be the logic behind selection any year, no matter how many times an athlete has won the event. In the NBA, no one stopped Larry Bird, Stephen Curry, or Damian Lillard from doing so unless they declared that they were not going to compete.

The WNBA used that idea to declare that both Ionescu, Clark, and Kayla McBride, one of the best shooters who is also having a career year, had declined to participate in the event.

The Liberty star left a ‘lies’ comment on the Bleacher Report Women’s Sports Instagram channel, but the media house quickly took the entire post down, possibly after being asked to do so by the league. But it was not before the comment caught everyone’s attention.

Personally, I can’t decline an offer I never officially got invited to. I was pretty surprised to see that. Never got invited… Whether it’s against Steph Curry or in the W, I always go out and try and beat my record… That was just false.

Sabrina Ionescu told Sportico

This was the clearest indication from the 28-year-old that the WNBA lied about extending an invite to her. Moreover, they fabricated the lie to ensure the league does not look bad in front of the fans.

Once Sabrina Ionescu confirmed the ‘lie’, it could be that Caitlin Clark and Kayla McBride also did not get an invite from the league, but tried to cover up their part. The latter confirmed that she did not get an official invite, which means the league has been lying about its players.

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In her answer, Sabrina Ionescu made it clear that she has never shied away from a challenge unless there was a specific reason. In the 2024 edition, she declined to participate since she was preparing for the Paris Olympics.

Sabrina Ionescu has been hot from distance of late
Sabrina Ionescu has been hot from distance of late (Image via WNBA/X)

Otherwise, the Oregon alum has always done whatever is needed for the league to get some publicity, just like it did when she battled Steph Curry in the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend.

Maybe I’ll do it with Steph again at NBA All-Star and get a really nice official invite.

Sabrina Ionescu said

The New York Post’s Madeline Kenney quoted this part of the interview, which shows that the four-time All-Star is ticked off about the entire episode and now would hope the NBA properly invites her to a future showdown.

That was also a subtle way of clapping back at the league for lying about the players. Amidst all the narratives surrounding the WNBA, the last thing to happen was its own players calling out their lies. The top brass’ decision-making has brought nothing but trouble, and these instances are not helping matters.

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After these interviews, it was time for Sabrina Ionescu to go out and win a game for her New York Liberty. Injuries have seen them struggle with consistency, which means the remaining players have to step up.

The California native stepped up in their last game against the Dallas Wings, going on a heater in overtime from distance to help them win. Against the visiting Chicago Sky, featuring two of their former players, Ionescu had to dip into her clutch gene again.

Down eight points with less than a minute, the guard launched heave after heave to eventually win the game. After the contest, reporters asked her about the nine-point effort that sealed the deal. After explaining what went right, she said:

I just saw the basket and felt like I was kinda having my own three-point shootout in-game.

Sabrina Ionescu said

This was the most sarcastic Sabrina Ionescu had been while taking shots at the WNBA for lying about her 3-point contest invite. No wonder teammate Jonquel Jones and head coach Chris DeMarco could not contain their laughter.

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