Introduction: Stephen Curry vs Sabrina
The basketball world was treated to an electrifying display of long-range shooting during the NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry and New York Liberty’s rising star Sabrina Ionescu faced a battle for 3-point supremacy. Let’s dive into the details of this historic matchup.
Curry finished with 29 shootout points, while Ionescu registered 26 in the one-round competition in the first him-vs-her shooting contest, which resulted from her extraordinary performance at the WNBA All-Star Weekend last summer.
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The Liberty star was first up and, using the slightly smaller WNBA ball, started strong, making 7-of-7 and ultimately racking up her 26 points — 18-of-27 threes, but only 11 of the final 20.
Stephen vs Sabrina 🤝@sabrina_i20 of the @nyliberty goes off for 26 points pic.twitter.com/pYPmLnqroh
— WNBA (@WNBA) February 18, 2024
The Contest Format
The Starry 3-Point Contest pitted Curry and Ionescu against each other. These two sharpshooters, arguably the best in their respective leagues, stepped onto the court at Lucas Oil Stadium to determine who reigns supreme over the NBA and WNBA.
How It Came About
The origins of this exciting competition trace back to last summer’s WNBA All-Star weekend. Ionescu set a record with a jaw-dropping 37 points in the 3-point contest. Curry, never one to shy away from a challenge, accepted, saying, “I gotta go after Sabrina’s record. I guess we gotta settle that one for sure.”
Fast forward to the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend, and the stage was set. No more doubts—this would determine the true 3-point competition champ.
Ionescu made her first seven shots and went 8-for-9 on money balls but slowed down at the end of her round, making “only” five of her final ten shots. Shooting with WNBA basketballs from the NBA 3-point line tallied a score of 26, as much as any player had in any round in the preceding Starry 3-Point Contest.
The Showdown
On Saturday night, Curry and Ionescu delivered a jaw-dropping performance. Curry’s score of 29 would have won the regular NBA 3-point contest. At the same time, Ionescu matched the best number any NBA player not named Curry put up 2. The intensity was palpable as they traded treys, each shot dripping with precision and confidence.
The Venue and TV Coverage
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
- Start Time: Approximately 9:15-9:30 PM ET (after the NBA 3-point contest)
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
— Vito Corleonie (@VCorleonie) February 18, 2024
Quotes from the Competitors
- Curry: “However this plays out, it’s what sports is about, right? Competing, whatever the format is. She’s the champ, so I’m the contender. Let’s lay it out on the line”.
- Ionescu: “This is a pinch-me moment. Knowing what we’re able to do this next weekend is every kid’s dream.”
Leveling the Playing Field
Initially, Curry was set to shoot from the NBA 3-point line (23 feet, nine inches), while Ionescu would shoot from the WNBA 3-point line (22 feet, 1.75 inches). However, Ionescu shot from the NBA line to ensure a fair competition.
Curry and Ionescu also discussed the possibility of an NBA-WNBA shooting contest becoming part of All-Star Weekend.
“Hopefully, this isn’t the last time we do this,” Ionescu said.
Making things even more interesting will be the venue for the 2025 All-Star Game: San Francisco, where Ionescu grew up and Curry now plays. Beyond that will be the arrival of a new shootist supreme in the NBA: Caitlin Clark, who became the greatest scorer in NCAA women’s history earlier this week with a 40-footer.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Curry emerged victorious, but both players left an indelible mark on the basketball world. The Curry vs Ionescu 3-point contest will be remembered as a thrilling clash of shooting titans—a moment when NBA and WNBA stars shared the spotlight and celebrated the art of the long ball.
