Team USA will soon depart to contend for its 8th consecutive Gold at the Paris Olympics. But before that, a few exciting events will grace the Footprint Center in Phoenix. These include the WNBA All-Star game, which has not one but two rookies in the form of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. However, what’s astonishing for most people is that Clark, who holds the record for the most threes in NCAA history, will be absent from the WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest. But that is not all.

The reigning champion, Sabrina Ionescu will also miss out on the event. Still, there are some noteworthy candidates who will have the opportunity to showcase their skill set in this regard. Who are they, and what credentials do they hold before heading into this yearly spectacle? Let’s find out!

The Final 5 of the 2024 WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest

Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx, and Connecticut Sun will have one representative each in this year’s 3-Point Contest. At the same time, the week has brought some interesting turn of events for former Chicago shooting guard Marina Mabrey. She was recently traded to the Connecticut Sun. But before that, she managed to grab the 8th position in the league from the standpoint of long-range shots. As a result, her tally of 56 was enough for her entry into the competition. In addition to this, she is also deemed worthy of the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge.

The 6’6 authoritative center of the New York Liberty Jonquel Jones will be the flag bearer for the franchise. Moreover, this is the third time that Liberty’s regular starter will be making an appearance. The 5× WNBA All-Star is currently 40-101 from beyond the arc. Her accuracy of 39.6% places her 16th overall in the league.

To no one’s surprise, the Mystics’ No. 31 Stefanie Dolson also made the list. The veteran is currently second-best in terms of three-point field goal percentage this season. Meanwhile, there are some guards as well who will be taking center stage at the All-Star weekend. Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride has made the most threes this season with a total of 76.

Last but not least, the Dreams’ cream of the crop, Alisha Gray. The former WNBA Rookie of the Year is the team’s top performer at the moment. On top of that, the 29-year-old is also the best deep shooter in the locker room. Consequently, managing a 36% efficiency in this specific offensive segment ensures her participation.

While these names hold a certain value of their own, fans are intrigued as to why the event eludes the presence of two of the most prolific entities in this sphere.

Why are Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu absent from the WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest?

Currently tied at the third spot in the most 3-pointers made with Arike Ogunbowale and Kelsey Plum with 71, Caitlin Clark still isn’t convinced that she should exhibit her skills at the contest. The 2× USBWA National Player of the Year was pretty much unsure about it during a media address on Wednesday. “I don’t know,” Caitlin Clark told The Athletic when asked whether she was approached by the league in context with the competition. Clark further added, “My focus is on this game tonight and then we’ll turn to All-Star then after that.”

Simultaneously, people who will be present at the Footprint Center won’t be seeing the WNBA’s second-best 3-point scorer Sabrina Ionescu in action. She set the stage on fire last year by connecting 25 of her last 26 shots in the final round. Therefore, Ionescu’s 37 points are the most in any 3-point contest regardless if it’s men’s or women’s. Furthermore, the 2022 WNBA Skills Challenge Champion featured in a first-of-its-kind 3-point competition in February. Here she went against the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry, and came up short by just 3 points.

After the Liberty’s win against Chicago last week, she reflected a similar chain of thought to that of Clark. Ionescu said, “I don’t know man. My shot’s not been that great. So, I might have to pass.” In the meantime, the WNBA supporters will also be eager to know more about the particulars of this struggle between the aforementioned athletes.

Hardly anyone would argue that fans will miss what Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu could have brought to the table in this competition. The two can be seen as among the very best in this business. Still, a lot can be looked forward to in this phenomenal spectacle.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.