Ionescu Breaks Records in WNBA 3-Point Shooting Contest

Las Vegas – Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty made history at the 2023 WNBA All-Star weekend by breaking records for the most points in a 3-point shooting contest. Ionescu’s impressive performance saw her hit all but two of her shots in the final round, earning her a total of 37 out of a possible 40 points.

Ionescu’s score surpassed the previous single-round records in both the NBA and WNBA. The NBA record of 31 points was set by Stephen Curry in 2021 and Tyrese Haliburton in 2023, while Allie Quigley held the previous WNBA record with 30 points in 2022.

In the final round, Sami Whitcomb of the Seattle Storm finished in second place with 22 points, followed by Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings with 11 points. Several other players, including DiJonai Carrington of the Connecticut Sun, Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever, and Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces, were eliminated in the first round.

Ionescu’s incredible performance left the crowd in awe, including Liberty owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai, as well as her peers in the league. Allie Quigley, a four-time 3-point contest winner who is taking the season off, praised Ionescu’s record-breaking feat.

After the contest, Ionescu revealed that her teammate, Courtney Vandersloot, had advised her to practice shooting from a rack heading into the competition. The guidance paid off, and Ionescu’s success in the contest was a testament to her hard work. Throughout the regular season, she has been one of the league’s top shooters, with 54 three-pointers at a 44.6% shooting percentage.

The former Oregon star, known for her triple-double prowess in college, plans to send the contest’s film to Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. Ionescu hopes that the impressive performance will lead to more 3-point opportunities in future games.

In addition to the 3-point shooting contest, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces took home trophies in the Skills Challenge. The duo defeated Ionescu and Vandersloot in the final round. The Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker, as well as Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings, were eliminated in the first round.

This year’s WNBA All-Star weekend was the first to feature a new format, with teammates teaming up to compete for the prize. The atmosphere was electric, and the players enjoyed the experience.

The highly anticipated 2023 WNBA All-Star Game will take place on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted on ABC.

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