Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu NBA All-Star Contest Rematch Gets Disappointing Update
One of the most thrilling aspects of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend (certainly as it pertains to the women's basketball community) was the three-point contest that took place between New York Liberty superstar Sabrina Ionescu and Golden State Warriors legend Steph Curry.
While Curry ultimately won the shooting contest, the event was truly a win for everyone involved, as it drew a ton of attention to All-Star Weekend while also helping elevate both Ionescu and the WNBA into the mainstream sports world that weekend.
STEPHEN CURRY HEATS UP LATE TO WIN STEPHEN vs. SABRINA!
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024
Curry: 29 PTS
Ionescu: 26 PTS
What. A. Battle. https://t.co/hRX4qElqQJ pic.twitter.com/Uu9hmBhUhO
Given the contest's success, it hadn't come as a surprise that there was interest in a rematch of sorts during the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend. However, this one was rumored to be getting even bigger, as Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was reportedly asked to compete along with Ionescu in a match that would include both Steph Curry and his former Warriors splash brother, Klay Thompson.
Clark ultimately declined the invite. And it seems like this may have thrown a wrench in the entire rematch, as ESPN insider Shams Charania wrote on X February 13, "NBA-WNBA shootout with Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu is off. NBA's Mike Bass: 'We weren't able to land on a plan we thought would raise the bar off of last year’s special moment. We all agreed not to proceed and will instead keep the focus on All-Star Sunday’s new format.'”
NBA-WNBA shootout with Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu is off. NBA's Mike Bass: "We weren't able to land on a plan we thought would raise the bar off of last year’s special moment. We all agreed not to proceed and will instead keep the focus on All-Star Sunday’s new format.”
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 13, 2025
Given what NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said about them being unable to "raise the bar", perhaps the event was solely dependent on Clark taking part, which would have absolutely raised the bar.
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Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.
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