The 73rd All-Star Saturday is one for the books. While the second-day schedule revolved around its staple events – the 3-point contest and the Slam Dunk contest, this year we had one more event added to the lineup, the Steph vs. Sabrina 3-point contest. The first-of-its-kind NBA vs. WNBA crossover shootout was one of the main attractions of the day, and it stole the show in every sense. As per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, viewership peaked during the 10-10:15 pm ET window, the same time when Stephen Curry was up against the New York Liberty star. On average, the whole night fetched 4.6 million views, a 31% increase from last year.

Nearly 10 million unique viewers in the US tuned in to watch the All-Star Saturday Night on TNT, truTV, and B/R Sports on Max. Not only is it a 54% surge from last year’s ratings, but it is also the most-watched NBA All-Star Saturday night in four years. With the NBA’s pursuit to refine All-Star Weekend to attract viewers, the Steph vs. Sabrina 3-point contest showcased that such crossovers could be an annual showcase with the ability to draw in more eyeballs to not just the NBA but also the WNBA.

As evident, the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA lived up to every bit of the hype and more. Stephen Curry came out on top during the one-round 3-point shootout, scoring 29 points to Ionescue’s 26 points. Ionescu’s score also matched Damian Lillard‘s score in the final round to win the 3-point contest. With her exceptional performance, not only did she prove that she could hold her own in front of the greatest shooter of all time, but she also inspired millions of young children to not shy away from doing something that’s never been done before. Regardless of the outcome, the event has now opened the door for future versions of this event.

Sabrina Ionescu might return with a partner next year

While Sabrina narrowly missed out on the victory, she hinted that she was open to running it back next year, perhaps with a teammate. “We’ve been talking about finding different ways to change this up next year,” Ionescu said. “I think he has a partner in mind that’s going to join him. So I’m open to any partner that could help me win and take that belt.”

Kenny Smith also suggested that the duo return once again next year, however, for an encore shootout featuring Lillard and Caitlin Clark on their sides. Earlier this week, Clark etched her name in NCAA women’s basketball history as the greatest scorer, sinking a remarkable 40-foot shot. Her exceptional shooting range has made her one of the most electrifying players in the sport, positioning her as the likely top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, provided she decides to forego her extra year of eligibility.

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Stephen Curry Makes Telling Appeal to His NBA-Hating Daughters After All-Star Battle With Sabrina Ionescu

If such a thing does come to fruition, this would be a match made in both basketball and ratings heaven. With this year’s event being such a success, it is hard to imagine it not becoming a hallmark event in the future.

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