“I don’t know,” replied Caitlin Clark when asked about her participation in the three-point contest. Previously, the WNBA announced Stefanie Dolson, Jonquel Jones, Allisha Gray, Kayla McBride, and Marina Mabrey as its revised three-point shooting contest roster. It’s the same opportunity Clark rejected an invitation for. As of now, it seems that she might have taken this decision owing to her already packed weekend. However, this move has left a certain Celtics legend with a few thoughts.

Recently, Paul Pierce joined the host Skip Bayless, for the latest episode of Undisputed, where he talked about how if a player is known for their three-point shooting then they should take part in such contests. He even used the example of Stephen Curry. “Caitlin Clark, you give us all these amazing threes and you lead the league in three-points attempts and you don’t get in the three-point contest. So, that to me is selfishly disappointing but I don’t understand,” Paul Pierce said, via Undisputed.

“I’m surprised, Skip. I’m disappointed,” Pierce said about Clark’s decision. “This was the opportunity just to elevate their brands to the next level, just as it was for like Michael Jordan in the Dunk contest. This is equivalent to that if she participates and wins.” Pierce compared Clark’s situation to that of Michael Jordan’s 1990 All-Star Slam Dunk and Three-point Contest. Though Jordan counted 5 out of 30 attempts, recording one of the worst performances in the competition’s history, he accumulated immense popularity.

Similarly, Clark would have turned the tables in the three-point contest. Considering she’s the quickest player in the WNBA to hit 400 points in just 26 games, she might have come out with flying colors in the three-point contest. But all these assumptions came to rest as Clark declined the golden opportunity. However, she’s not the only person to do so.

Why did the reigning champion choose to decline?

Just like Caitlin Clark, the invitation was also extended to Sabrina Ionescu, and she too declined to participate. Her denial was more intriguing as she was the reigning champion of the three-point contest. Last year, she shot 25 out of 26 attempts to score 37 points in the final round, recording a new high in both men’s and women’s games.

Meanwhile, she also competed against the three-point champion Stephen Curry in the first-ever NBA vs WNBA 3-point contest, in which she fell short by just one three-point shot. Still, all these feats weren’t enough to convince her to enter the three-point contest.

Both the W stars have decided to sit out of this contest on grounds to focus on the coming important days. With the WNBA All-Star game just a few hours away, Clark will be playing for her Team WNBA roster, whereas Sabrina Ionescu will help her Team USA defeat the opponent team. Now the question is: who will win the upcoming matchup? Only time will tell.

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.