Steph Curry narrowly edged out Sabrina Ionescu on Saturday as the two sharpshooters clashed during All-Star Weekend in the inaugural NBA vs. WNBA three-point contest, putting an end to a long-standing debate. The Golden State Warriors standout racked up 29 points compared to the New York Liberty’s star player, who managed 26.
During the TNT broadcast, Ionescu expressed her enthusiasm for “changing the narrative” surrounding NBA and WNBA players.
“That was amazing,” Ionescu said. “Just to be able to have this be the first of this kind of event and come out here and put on a show but understanding what this means. Excited to change the narrative and be able to do it alongside the greatest to ever do it.”
Wearing the three-point champion belt, Curry spoke highly of the event and praised Ionescu.
“This couldn’t have gone any better in the sense of us two taking the chance in front of this stage, running around with all the hype, and to deliver like that, she set the bar, it was unbelievable to watch,” Curry said. “So, this might be something – I don’t know if anybody can fill these shoes but it might be something that we need to do more often.”
An Incredible Cross Over Match
Steph Curry, a two-time NBA three-point contest champion, boasts the league’s record for most career three-pointers made, totaling 3,642.
However, in 2023, Ionescu made waves by setting the WNBA record for most three-pointers in a single season, totaling 128.
Additionally, she made history in the three-point contest last season, achieving a WNBA and NBA all-time record score of 37 out of 40 possible points.
According to the official release, Curry utilized NBA balls from the NBA three-point line, whereas Ionescu opted for the WNBA equivalents, which are slightly closer in distance and feature slightly smaller balls.
Confident in her abilities before the match, Ionescu expressed her desire to level the playing field. “I’ll shoot from the NBA line… LET’S GET IT,” she boldly declared on X.
As part of the contest, both Curry and Ionescu’s charities will benefit from donations courtesy of the NBA and WNBA. Additionally, the pair will have the opportunity to raise funds for the NBA Foundation, dedicated to promoting economic empowerment within the Black community.
Regular shots will contribute $1,000 each, while every money ball will add $2,000. Moreover, a special 29-foot-9-inch three-pointer, dubbed the “STARRY Range Ball,” holds a value of $3,000.
“I think this is like the coolest thing ever,” Curry shared.
“I love the confidence, I love the competition. It’s a new format on that stage.”
