Caitlin Clark’s WNBA 3-Point Contest Snub Undercuts All-Star Weekend Appeal

The WNBA revealed its 3-Point Contest roster on Tuesday, with one conspicuous absence dominating the conversation: Caitlin Clark. ESPN confirmed that the league extended an invitation to Clark to participate in the shooting competition, but she declined the opportunity. Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride similarly turned down invitations to compete.

The rejections represent a substantial setback for both the WNBA and its broadcast partner. The league specifically restructured the shooting contest to include “From the Logo” shots—a feature directly inspired by Clark’s signature long-distance prowess. State Farm had even designed a marketing campaign centered on her three-point capabilities, making the league’s modification an obvious homage to its biggest star.

ESPN faced particular disappointment given that Clark’s participation would have likely guaranteed viewership exceeding one million. The network now must proceed with a competition lacking the league’s most compelling draw and several other high-profile shooters. The Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham, both talented shooters with significant fan followings, also did not appear in the field.

Mitchell finished ninth overall in All-Star voting with 665,377 votes and shoots 42 percent from three this season. Cunningham tallied 386,451 votes while converting 44 percent of her three-point attempts and boasts 3.2 million TikTok followers. Additionally absent is Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick who averages 20 points per game and led all players with 1,045,051 All-Star votes.

The competition will feature Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey, Azzi Fudd, Bridget Carleton, Natisha Hiedeman, and Janelle Salaün competing Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. While these shooters rank among the league’s leaders in made threes—Mabrey leads with 82 and Howard has 79—most remain relatively unknown to casual audiences compared to the absent stars.

Clark has never competed in a WNBA 3-Point Contest despite three seasons in the league. She declined the 2024 event, withdrew from the 2025 competition due to injury, and has now reportedly declined this year’s invitation. Her absence underscores the magnitude of her impact on league viewership and engagement, as regular-season games and road arenas draw noticeably larger crowds and ratings when she participates.

For a league attempting to build momentum through All-Star Weekend, losing Clark represents a critical miscalculation. The nationally televised contest featuring enhanced logo shots loses much of its marquee appeal without the player most emblematic of modern women’s basketball’s elevated profile and popularity.