NBA All-Star: What’s the Origin Story of Stephen Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu’s Battle?

We will witness something unprecedented during the coming weekend. The emotions of unity and equality will all shine on the Lucas Oil Stadium. The NBA’s greatest shooter, Stephen Curry will take on the WNBA’s transcending star, New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu. It is a competition long in the making.

Famously, it was last year when the seeds for this one-of-a-kind showdown were sown. Ionescu won the three-point contest in record-breaking fashion. She scored 37 points out of a possible 40. The record she beat? 31 held by none other than Stephen Curry. From there began a string of friendly conversations and challenges. Finally, the moment has arrived when the WNBA faces off against the NBA.

Stephen Curry knew of Sabrina Ionescu long before her WNBA days

Ionescu grew up a fan of the Baby Face Assassin. She was raised in the Bay around the same time Curry was ascending into greatness. Like any other Dub Nation fan, she would be elated to watch Curry work his magic on the floor. She even went to watch several of the Golden State Warriors games and began modeling her game after her idol.

Then when at Miramonte High School, the now WNBA star began to make headlines. She dominated in her four years four years at her high school. She culminated a record of 119-9 and won numerous accolades to her name. The Bay was made aware of another star, and even Curry took notice.

Then when she began her collegiate career at Oregon, Ionescu remained a force in basketball. She racked up triple-doubles frequently. While a state championship evaded her, the Liberty starlet carved out a reputation of being the most elite player in her class. She made history becoming the first athlete in NCAA basketball to rack up 2000 points, 1000 assists, and 1000 rebounds.

During one of these games while at Oregon, Stephen Curry along with his two daughters went to watch Ionescu. That was the first time they met. That’s where he noticed her consuming drive to be great. It was also the place Ionescu christened Curry as her mentor.

From that point on they have regularly had interactions and even shot on the court together. Competitions have been held behind closed doors. In fact, in their most recent game of HORSE, Ionescu got the better of the greatest shooter in NBA history.

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During their recent talks with the media, Curry said that’s the reason he refers to her as the “champ”. Now, after a year of Ionescu breaking the record, here we are.

How did the Curry vs Ionescu challenge germinate?

Sabrina Ionescu was fresh off her historic performance in the WNBA three-point contest. Her immediate reaction was to go for a higher challenge. She chose her friend and mentor, Stephen Curry. She sent out a tweet. “Shoot out?” and tagged Curry.

Days later in an interview when posed with the question of winning a golf tournament or a three-point contest, Chef Curry name dropped Ionescu. He claimed to eye her record and demanded that they settle it on the court. The WNBA leading three-point maker from last season agreed again.

Then came the latest installation. Before a Warriors game, Curry was in conversation with Brandon Podziemski, the Bay rookie. He was firstly impressed that the rookie knew who held the record for most points in a three-point contest. Then he issued the challenge again.

“I think I gotta bring her out…we gotta settle this once and for all,” he told the rookie.

Within half an hour, she responded, “Let’s getttttt it!! See ya at the 3 pt line,”. Four days later on 30th January, it was all worked out. The NBA announced the Stephen Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu challenge. Initially, Ionescu was to shoot from WNBA range. However, at her request, she will take a step further back and shoot from the same distance as her mentor.

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Both are decorated shooters. Curry, the league leader in all-time threes and a career 42% shooter. Ionescu broke the record for most threes in a WNBA season last year and was the third most efficient shooter in the league. It was bound to be a brawl. They stand on equal footing. It will be an event that transforms how women’s basketball is viewed. But who will win?