Sabrina Ionescu, the star of the New York Liberty, has firmly denied reports claiming she declined an invitation to the 2026 WNBA 3-point contest. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, she stated, "I can't decline an offer I never got officially invited to," expressing surprise at the circulating rumors.

Ionescu, a two-time 3-point contest champion, emphasized her commitment to competing, saying, "Whether it's against Steph Curry or in the W, I always go out and try and beat my record every single time I've gone out."

The controversy arose after ESPN reported on Tuesday that Ionescu, along with Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Kayla McBride of the Minnesota Lynx, declined invitations to the contest. Ionescu notably won the event last year, setting a record with a score of 37 and achieving an impressive shooting performance of 25 out of 27 shots, including 20 consecutive makes.

While Ionescu clarified her position, details surrounding Clark’s invitation remain ambiguous. McBride, the WNBA's active leader in career 3-pointers, criticized the reports on her Instagram, stating she received a "half ass invite" from her agent and urged fans to focus on the participants who are confirmed to compete.

Fans have eagerly anticipated a matchup between Ionescu and Clark since Clark, the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, joined the league in 2024. Although she declined an invitation as a rookie, Clark was set to participate last year but missed out due to a groin injury.

With Ionescu, Clark, and McBride out of the contest, notable participants include Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 draft pick, and Marina Mabrey, who leads the league in 3-pointers made this season. The event will take place on Friday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.