The three-point contest between Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu from the 2024 All-Star weekend—perhaps the most beloved part of last year’s festivities—will not return this year, The Athletic first reported.
The two sides were reportedly not interested in a rematch after Curry narrowly defeated Ionescu, 29–26, last year. All-Star Saturday Night drew 4.6 million viewers last year—its highest in three years—and peaked at 5.4 million during Curry and Ionescu’s duel.
The NBA was reportedly exploring ideas to create a revamped version of the contest, which would have included WNBA star Caitlin Clark and Klay Thompson. The latter was Curry’s longtime backcourt running mate in Golden State, the host of the 2025 All-Star weekend.
Clark declined the offer from the NBA to participate late last month, with her representatives telling ESPN that she would like her first three-point contest to be at the WNBA’s All-Star event later this year.
“We weren’t able to land on a plan we thought would raise the bar off of last year’s special moment. We all agreed not to proceed and will instead keep the focus on All-Star Sunday’s new format,” NBA executive vice president and chief communications officer Mike Bass told ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania on Thursday.
In an interview with Front Office Sports reporter Alex Schiffer on Tuesday, Ionescu hinted the contest wasn’t going to push through even though she’ll be in San Francisco during NBA All-Star weekend.
“I’m not sure if we’re doing it or not, to be honest. There’s kind of been a lot of moving parts,” Ionescu said. “But I’ll definitely be in the Bay Area for the All-Star Game with other stuff that I’ll be a part of.”
