Ionescu Triumphs in 3-Point Contest, Cloud Seizes Skills Competition During Liberty All-Star Sweep

Sabrina Ionescu delivered a standout performance at the All-Star weekend, winning the 3-point contest for the second consecutive time. The star guard for the New York Liberty showcased her shooting skills, scoring 30 points in the finals to defeat defending champion Allisha Gray.

This win marked a successful evening for Ionescu and her teammate Natasha Cloud, who clinched the skills competition title, completing a clean sweep for the Liberty. Ionescu’s score of 30 points fell short of her record-breaking 37 from two years ago, where she hit an impressive 25 of 27 shots, a record in both the WNBA and NBA.

Despite not matching her previous record, her score tied for the second-highest in the event, equaling Allie Quigley’s mark. Quigley is the only other player to win this contest multiple times, claiming victory four times in total.

Ionescu sat out last year’s competition in favor of preparing for the Olympics, but returned to Indianapolis for this event, having previously faced off against Steph Curry in a special shootout during the NBA All-Star weekend. After her victory, Ionescu proudly shared her win with Curry over a call.

In the 3-point contest, Gray finished with 22 points after some tense moments, needing to make her final shots to advance to the finals. Lexie Hull, stepping in for the injured Caitlin Clark, finished fourth with 20 points, while rookie Sonia Citron scored 19 points in the opening round.

Cloud, making her first All-Star weekend appearance in her 11-year career, exhibited exceptional skill in the obstacle course competition, finishing in 36.4 seconds. She celebrated her win with Ionescu and her girlfriend, Isabelle Harrison, who had previously encouraged her to triumph for their future home.

Cloud and Ionescu both received substantial monetary rewards for their victories, with Ionescu promising to share half of her prize with Citron, keeping her promise to support the rookie.