Why Caitlin Clark skipping three-point contest could be ‘win-win’ for WNBA

Caitlin Clark not shooting in the three-point contest for the WNBA All-Star Weekend was certainly peculiar. The Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray ended up winning the competition.

Clark prioritized rest over competing in the contest, considering her non-stop competition from Iowa to the draft to her rookie WNBA season. Not only that, sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu, who competed against Steph Curry during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, also skipped the competition.

Mad Dog Sports Radio’s Lance Medow argued Clark missing out could be a “win-win” for the league.

“Sabrina Ionescu, who was one of the players that did not take part in the three point shootout as well as Caitlin Clark, and both of them were asked why they didn’t want to take part,” Medow said.

“Caitlin said she has been going nonstop for really the last two years as Iowa made it to the national championship game, and then she went straight from her season, got drafted, training camp, WNBA starts. It’s not a crime for her to say you know what? I want a night off. And Ionescu who has been mentioning well, she’s been handling working out with the Liberty, going through training camp for Team USA. So you can also understand that she’s not necessarily prioritizing a three point shootout.” 

Clark and the Fever have played 26 games, the most of any team in the WNBA. Moreover, Clark had no time to rest before the WNBA season began. 

Clark’s final collegiate season came to an end on April 7. Only eight days later, the Fever selected her with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

“And I don’t think once again, you need only those two players to have a competition the day before the all star game,” Medow said. “It’s the same argument I have with golf. Caitlin has helped put people in seats and eyeballs on the WNBA. But if you want your product to grow, when those eyeballs are there, you’ve got to showcase your other talent. So this could be a win-win for the WNBA. 

“But if you’re gonna be that individual that only wants Caitlin Clark, there’s nothing that WNBA can do outside of Caitlin to help move along the product because you’re fascinated and enamored with Caitlin and that’s fine. But if you truly care about the WNBA you come for Caitlin, let’s say, you stay though, for what the rest of the product has to offer. And that’s how you achieve that by not only showcasing Caitlin Clark.”

Despite any exhaustion, Clark has been fantastic at the next level. The former Iowa standout is averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 40.5% from the field and 32.7% from beyond the arc.

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