WNBA stars Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride have publicly challenged reports that they declined invitations to the 2026 WNBA All-Star 3-Point Contest.
The event is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2026, in Chicago.
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League sources previously reported that Ionescu, McBride, and Caitlin Clark were invited but turned down the offers.
Both players refuted the claim, citing communication flaws from league organizers.
Ionescu: 'Never Got Invited'
Ionescu, a two-time contest champion and holder of the single-round scoring record, disputed the narrative following reports of her absence from the six-player field.
"I can't decline an offer I never got officially invited to," said Ionescu, guard for the New York Liberty.
"So was pretty surprised to see that. Never got invited."
The Liberty guard added that she had intended to clarify the situation publicly while wishing luck to the participating players.
"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," said Ionescu.
"I just kind of wanted to set the record straight. Like that was just false, but I'm really excited for the participants in it."
She also poked fun at the situation while speaking to reporters about future competitions.
"Maybe I'll do it with Steph again at NBA All-Star and get a really nice official invite," said Ionescu.
McBride: 'Half a-- Invite'
McBride similarly expressed frustration over how the league handled the outreach for the event.
