Caitlin Clark was invited to participate in the WNBA 3-Point Contest but declined the invitation, ESPN reported. The WNBA’s official contest announcement, released Tuesday, listed the competitors and did not include Clark.
The contest, part of All-Star Weekend in Chicago, will feature a new “From the Logo” shot on the clock alongside the standard racks. League materials and reporting note the change and the announced field; ESPN’s reporting indicates Clark was offered a spot and chose not to compete. Fox News and ESPN coverage of the announcement and vote totals provide the basis for the figures cited below.
Caitlin Clark and the 3-Point Contest invite
ESPN reported that the WNBA extended an invitation to Caitlin Clark to join the 3-Point Contest but that she declined. The league’s published roster for the event, posted on Tuesday, did not include Clark’s name.
Reporting also indicated that other high-profile shooters either were not listed or declined invitations. ESPN specifically reported that Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride were among notable players who did not participate, though the league’s official announcement did not enumerate which players had been offered invitations and then declined.
Who is in the field and rule changes
The announced competitors for the 3-Point Contest are Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey, Azzi Fudd, Bridget Carleton, Natisha Hiedeman and Janelle Salaün. The event will be staged at Wintrust Arena in Chicago as part of the league’s All-Star Weekend programming.
One format change for this year’s contest is the addition of “From the Logo” shots — extra-long attempts beyond the usual rack locations. The WNBA has presented the amendment as a way to increase drama and to measure players’ deep-range shooting. Media coverage noted the change and its potential to favor players comfortable from extended distance.
Fan voting and key numbers
Fan voting determined much of the All-Star Game roster and highlighted the popularity of certain players, including some who are not in the 3-Point Contest field. Vote totals reported by ESPN and summarized in media coverage include:
By the numbers
- Paige Bueckers — 1,045,051 fan votes (led the league)
- Kelsey Mitchell — 665,377 fan votes
- Sophie Cunningham — 386,451 fan votes; shooting 44% from three this season
- Marina Mabrey — led the WNBA with 82 made three-pointers entering play Tuesday
- Rhyne Howard — 79 made three-pointers entering play Tuesday
Those figures are taken from league and media reporting released alongside the All-Star selections. The vote totals illustrate fan interest patterns and helped shape the overall All-Star rosters even if some top vote-getters are not participating in the shooting contest itself.
Why Clark’s choice matters for All-Star Weekend
Caitlin Clark has been widely discussed as a viewer draw for televised WNBA coverage. Broadcasters and sponsors frequently account for marquee players when projecting ratings and planning promotional placements; outlets and industry observers have suggested that Clark can boost viewership for marquee segments.
Her absence from the 3-Point Contest — and the absence or non-participation of other prominent shooters — changes the promotional narrative for the event. With the added From the Logo shots and several notable long-range specialists in the field, the league and its broadcast partner will emphasize format changes and other star participants to sustain interest.
While media analysis projects potential impacts on ratings and sponsor visibility, actual effects will be measurable only after broadcast viewership and engagement metrics are released following the weekend.
What comes next
The 3-Point Contest will proceed on Friday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago with the announced competitors. Viewership, social engagement and post-event reporting will indicate how the event performed without Clark in the lineup and whether the format change resonated with casual and core fans.
The WNBA and ESPN typically publish post-event ratings and engagement figures that leagues and partners use to evaluate All-Star Weekend formats and promotional strategies. Observers will track those metrics to see whether the new logo-range shots and the participating shooters attracted the expected audience.
Source attribution and reporting notes
This article is based on the WNBA’s official contest announcement and reporting from ESPN that Caitlin Clark was invited but declined to participate. Fox News coverage of the WNBA announcement and related developments was also consulted. Vote totals and made-three totals cited above were verified against the ESPN and Fox News reporting linked below; where the league did not publish full invitation details, this article treats claims of declined invitations as reported rather than league-confirmed.
Sources: Fox News; reporting from ESPN. All listed vote and made-three figures were checked against those reports.
FAQ
Why did Caitlin Clark decline the 3-Point Contest?
ESPN reported that Clark was invited and declined; neither Clark nor her team issued a detailed public explanation in the reporting available at publication. Clark previously declined the 2024 contest and withdrew from the 2025 event due to injury.
Will Clark still appear at All-Star Weekend events?
There is no league-wide statement confirming Clark’s presence at other All-Star Weekend activities. Appearances outside formal competitions are typically announced separately if planned.
Could her absence affect TV ratings or sponsors?
Industry observers expect marquee players to influence ratings and sponsor visibility. Projections suggest Clark could boost viewership for marquee segments, but actual impact will depend on the weekend’s published broadcast and engagement metrics.
