The NBA versus WNBA three-point shootout contest turned out to be the highlight of the All-Star Weekend. The inaugural edition of the competition was well received by fans with many calling for it to become a regular feature at the All-Star Game.
Saturday’s shootout was contested between New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. The WNBA star set the pace with an incredible 26 points in the opening round. Curry followed with an impressive response in a high pressure situation and edged the competition 29-26.
Prior to the thrilling encounter, Ionescu hinted at a rematch next year against Curry. It is an exciting prospect for fans, players, marketing executive and the two leagues.
STEPHEN vs. SABRINA WAS A MOVIE.
Sabrina Ionescu opened on fire and dropped 26… before Stephen Curry came through in the clutch to win it with 29!
Enjoy. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Sz104f95FZ
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024
The WNBA and NBA have generally remained separate and avoided stepping on each other’s toes. The league’s have purposely avoided clashing with the women’s league running from mid-May to mid-October. The men’s league generally begins in October and ends in June.
The success of the three-point contest may lead to further collaborations between the NBA and WNBA.
Surprisingly, the push for the three-point event came from Curry and Ionescu, not the league. NBA commissioner Adam Silver may need to go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate next year’s agenda. Women players could be included in the skills competition and an All-Star Game featuring the players from both league’s could be exciting for fans.
Whether the leagues expands on their blossoming partnership remains to be seen. One thing that remains certain, however, is that Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu should definitely return for round two at next year’s All-Star event.
