INDIANAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu secured her second WNBA 3-Point Contest title on Friday night, capping a dominant performance that sealed an epic sweep for her team alongside Natasha Cloud, who won the Skills Challenge moments earlier.
Ionescu, despite admitting she hadn’t practiced shooting off the rack recently, exploded in the final round, dropping an impressive 30 points to claim the victory. Even with such a high score, which ties the second-highest mark ever in the WNBA 3-Point Contest, Ionescu expressed a touch of disappointment. “I missed a few easy ones there that I definitely could’ve made,” she said. “So sorry about that. But just happy to be here and obviously happy to have won with my teammate, Natasha Cloud.”
Cloud had been rallying Ionescu since they committed to the All-Star festivities, pushing for them to sweep the night’s shooting competitions. After Cloud’s Skills Challenge victory, she anticipated Ionescu would put on a show.
“To come out on top and a Liberty night, this is just also refreshing, right?” Cloud commented. “We had a hard start to the season. This is the break and the reset for us, and to come out with some wins and this good confidence going into the second part of the season here, but it’s a great night for the community and organization.”
Ionescu, a seasoned competitor, acknowledged the internal pressure she places on herself to perform at a high level, admitting to feeling nervous. She hopes her performance inspires others to believe in themselves, “fight your own demons,” and embrace the risk of failure.
That’s exactly what she did Friday night in Indianapolis. Once the signal sounded, Ionescu zeroed in, shutting out the surrounding noise.
Ionescu is one of only two players to have scored 30 points in the contest’s history. Allie Quigley is the other, achieving the same score in her 2022 victory. Ionescu’s remarkable 37-point performance in 2023 remains the NBA and WNBA record for the event.
“Thirty is not too bad, so happy with 30 as well,” Ionescu reflected. “Just want to be where my feet are at. Not beat myself up too much about not getting the record. And maybe I’ll get it one day.”
Following her win, she shared the moment with Stephen Curry, the four-time NBA champion who previously bested her in a 3-point challenge held in the same city. Ionescu remains uncertain about defending her title next year, citing numerous potential factors that could influence her decision.
Regarding her $62,575 prize money, Ionescu revealed a promise made to Mystics rookie Sonia Citron: she would give her half if she won. Ionescu recognized the significant courage it takes for a rookie to compete in such a high-profile, nationally televised event. “I obviously have to hold up my end of the bargain,” Ionescu stated. The remaining portion will be donated to her SI20 Foundation.
