Stephen Curry, the renowned Golden State Warriors guard, faced off against Sabrina Ionescu, the talented New York Liberty guard, in an unprecedented NBA vs. WNBA 3-point contest during the NBA All-Star Weekend. The matchup between Curry and Ionescu was highly anticipated, as it marked the first time that players from the NBA and WNBA competed against each other in this format.
Ionescu started the contest on a strong note, making seven consecutive shots and finishing with a total score of 26. This score happened to tie the highest score achieved by any NBA player in the 3-point contest held earlier that night, which was won by Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Curry showcased his shooting prowess by delivering perfect racks from both the left and right wings. Going into the final rack, known as the money-ball rack where each make is worth two points, Curry had 21 points. Although he missed his first shot, he made the last four to secure a victory with 29 points.
After the competition, Curry acknowledged the pressure he felt due to Ionescu’s impressive performance. He stated, “I saw the first rack … and I was having flashbacks to watching her this [past] summer. It added a lot of pressure, for sure, and I just wanted to get off to a good start, settle in and thankfully I made enough to get over the top.” Both players displayed exceptional shooting skills, making it an entertaining and memorable event.
Ionescu expressed her desire for a rematch with Curry in the future, acknowledging his victory and stating, “Obviously Steph won for a reason, and I’m going to have to try to beat him next time.” The matchup between Curry and Ionescu was introduced by TNT’s Ernie Johnson as “Stephen vs. Sabrina,” reminiscent of a marquee boxing match. The event drew parallels to the historic 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, which King won. However, unlike Riggs, Curry showed great respect for Ionescu and her abilities.
Curry and Ionescu had come up with the idea for the contest after Ionescu’s impressive showing at the WNBA All-Star Weekend in July. Curry praised her performance on social media, and Ionescu suggested a shootout with Curry, who holds the record for the most 3-pointers in NBA history and has won the All-Star 3-point contest twice. NBA commissioner Adam Silver commended Curry and Ionescu for their initiative, stating, “I know that Steph cares a lot about the women’s game.”
Curry’s respect for Ionescu was evident as he scouted her practice session and attempted to throw her off her game. Ionescu revealed that Curry was even booing her during the practice session, showing his competitive spirit. However, Ionescu proved to be unfazed by Curry’s tactics, displaying a killer instinct and focus that impressed Curry. He stated, “You see a different demeanor and a different kind of killer instinct and a focus…the skill is one thing, but the mentality is a totally different thing that you kind of can’t teach, and she has demonstrated that every step of the way.”
The shootout took place on a digital LED court set on top of a football field at Lucas Oil Stadium. Although the dimensions were NBA regulation, Ionescu chose to compete from the farther NBA 3-point line distance of 23 feet, 9 inches, instead of the WNBA distance of 22 feet, 1.75 inches. She aimed to push boundaries and equalize the playing field. Additionally, Ionescu used the slightly smaller WNBA ball instead of the NBA ball used by Curry.
Both Curry and Ionescu received $25,000 donations to their respective charities in addition to the championship belt that Curry took home. The belt featured two goats on gold panels, symbolizing the greatness of both players. They expressed their commitment to running it back next year when the Warriors host the All-Star Game in San Francisco. They even hinted at the possibility of expanding the event by partnering with another player, such as University of Iowa standout Caitlin Clark, who recently set the NCAA women’s all-time scoring record.
The shootout between Curry and Ionescu was a groundbreaking event that showcased the talent and skill of both NBA and WNBA players. It was a testament to the growing recognition and respect for women’s sports. Curry and Ionescu’s collaboration in creating this event has opened doors for future opportunities and inspired young boys and girls to compete and excel in basketball. The memorable showdown will be remembered for years to come as a significant moment in the history of the sport.
