Caitlin Clark declines WNBA 3-Point Contest invitation, dealing major blow to All-Star Weekend and ESPN - Fox News

What the report says

Fox News, through OutKick, reported that Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will not take part in the WNBA 3-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend after declining an invitation, citing ESPN. The league announced the contest field Tuesday, and Fox framed Clark’s absence as a major setback because the event added “From the Logo” shots, a format element closely associated with Clark’s long-range shooting profile.

According to the report, Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride also declined invitations. The contest is scheduled for Friday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey, Azzi Fudd, Bridget Carleton, Natisha Hiedeman and Janelle Salaün listed as participants. Fox noted that the field includes several strong three-point shooters, including Mabrey and Howard among the league leaders in made threes entering Tuesday’s games.

The article emphasized the commercial and audience implications for the WNBA and broadcast partner ESPN, arguing that Clark’s participation would likely have increased attention around the event. Fox also pointed to other notable absences, including Clark’s Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham, while saying it was unclear whether either player had been invited.

For context, the publisher reported that Clark has not yet competed in the WNBA’s 3-Point Contest: she declined in 2024, was expected to participate in 2025 before withdrawing because of injury, and has now reportedly declined again. The development matters because Clark remains one of the league’s most visible players and a central driver of fan interest, television audiences and broader attention around WNBA events.