Ionescu, McBride Deny WNBA 3-Point Contest Invites After 6-Player Field Announced

Q: Why hasn't Caitlin Clark commented on whether she received the same informal text invite for the 2026 contest?

There is no confirmed public explanation because Clark has not addressed it herself. What is clear from the reporting is that Clark has remained silent while Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride publicly challenged the idea that they formally declined. Multiple outlets note that Clark “has not publicly commented” or that “it is unclear whether or not Clark received an invite.” So there is no verified evidence yet that she got the same kind of last-minute text relayed through an agent. The broader context suggests a few possible reasons, but they remain unconfirmed. The WNBA says its normal practice is to contact agents first to gauge interest, which may explain why McBride described an informal text and why confusion developed over what counted as an “official” invitation. Clark also has a history of passing on the event or being unable to participate: she declined as a rookie in 2024, planned to do it in 2025 before a groin injury forced her out, and has been managing a heavy All-Star schedule again this year. Some coverage has also pointed to workload and health as possible factors. Clark is still playing in the All-Star Game and captaining a team, and reports have noted she has been dealing with physical wear during the season. But unless Clark or her representatives speak directly, the reason she has not commented on whether she received a similar informal invite remains unknown.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23

Sabrina Ionescu said she was never officially invited to defend her WNBA 3-point title, disputing reports that she had declined a spot after the six-player field was announced.
Kayla McBride backed that challenge, saying on Instagram that her only outreach came through her agent in a text 48 hours earlier and was "not officially" an invite.
The WNBA said its usual process is to contact agents first to gauge interest, while Caitlin Clark—also reported to have declined—has not commented publicly.
Ionescu’s absence stands out because she is a two-time champion and set the WNBA/NBA 3-point contest final-round record with 37 points in 2023.