Caitlin Clark isn’t making her WNBA 3-Point Contest debut this year. Sabrina Ionescu isn’t coming to defend her title either.
Clark and Ionescu were not included in the list of six participants for the 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest announced Tuesday. The list of six was highlighted by All-Stars Marina Mabrey and Rhyne Howard as well as 2026 No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd. They’ll be joined by Bridget Carleton, Natisha Hiedeman, and Sixth Woman of the Year favorite Janelle Salaün.
A source familiar with the situation told FOS that some players were invited but declined the invitation for various reasons. The Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, and representatives for Clark and Ionescu did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Clark has still never shot in the contest since joining the league three years ago; she left Iowa as the all-time Division I leader in made three-pointers. She did not participate in her rookie season, but was announced as a participant last year when the event was held in Indianapolis.
However, Clark sustained a groin injury a few days before 2025 All-Star Weekend and had to withdraw from the contest. The injury ultimately ended her season.
Ionescu is one of only two players (along with Allie Quigley) to have won the contest multiple times. She won in 2023 and again last year, the only two times she participated.
In 2024, she skipped the contest, but nearly beat NBA star Stephen Curry in the “Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge” at 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Ionescu, however, started the 2026 season with an injury and had to work her way back to game form. She was not named an All-Star this year, the first time since 2021 that she will miss the All-Star Game.
Ionescu and Clark are not the only big names missing from the list of participants. Last year’s contest was only All-Stars until Clark was replaced by teammate Lexie Hull. This year’s list has just two All-Stars, with elite shooters like Paige Bueckers, Kelsey Plum, and former winner Allisha Gray missing.
Under the new CBA, the winner will take home $20,000 this year, while each participant will receive $10,000. This is up from $2,575 for last year’s winner and $1,030 for each participant.
The WNBPA partnered with Aflac to award an additional $60,000 to the winner in 2025; no corporate prize money has been announced yet this year.
