Overview
- The WNBA announced on Tuesday that Bridget Carleton, Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiedeman, Rhyne Howard, Janelle Salaün and Marina Mabrey will compete in the 3-Point Contest at Wintrust Arena on July 24.
- ESPN reporting, cited by multiple outlets, said Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride were invited but declined, though Ionescu publicly replied “Lies” to a now-deleted post that repeated the claim.
- A Bleacher Report post that echoed the ESPN sourcing was removed and screenshots circulated on social media, leaving the status of several invitations unclear and prompting public backlash.
- Azzi Fudd is the lone rookie in the field and Marina Mabrey enters as the top contender by raw volume, leading the league with 82 three-point field goals made this season.
- Observers have criticized the selection process for prioritizing total 3-pointers made over shooting efficiency, a complaint highlighted by Sophie Cunningham’s omission and likely to fuel calls for greater transparency.