Imago
Image Credits: Imagn
Imago
Image Credits: Imagn
Remember last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend when WNBA’s Sabrina Ionescu, after a record-breaking 37-point season in the WNBA, took on a thrilling shootout with Stephen Curry? The showdown proved the WNBA’s place on the biggest stage, and now the NBA wants to run it back—this time with Caitlin Clark. But there’s a catch: Clark isn’t signing up just yet.
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According to Sports Business Journal, the NBA is eager to add Caitlin Clark to what they’re calling Steph vs. Sabrina 2.0 during All-Star Weekend. But the TIME Athlete of the Year isn’t rushing to say yes.
Sports Business Journal sources revealed that while the league is pushing for her participation alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Sabrina Ionescu, Clark has little interest in a traditional three-point contest—especially one using ball racks, a setup that doesn’t align with her usual training routine.
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One possible compromise? An NBA star like Curry could return the favor by participating in a similar shootout at the WNBA All-Star Game next summer. But for now, Clark isn’t making any guarantees.
NBA is still hopeful Caitlin Clark will participate in a three-point contest it calls Steph vs. Sabrina 2.0 during All-Star weekend, source tell @TomFriendWriter https://t.co/aNyppUCdLA via @sbj pic.twitter.com/9jLJMmSwKJ
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) January 29, 2025
While, the NBA and Adam Silver have spent the past year trying to make the Sunday portion of All-Star Weekend must-watch TV, pulling out all the stops to boost viewership. But Caitlin Clark’s reluctance to join Steph vs. Sabrina 2.0 could throw a wrench into those plans.
Still, the league isn’t giving up just yet. As one source put it, “I wouldn’t say it’s over until the thing happens. A lot of this stuff comes together very, very late.” So, will the NBA find a way to get her on board, or will this All-Star Weekend miss out on one of the game’s biggest names? We’ll know soon enough.
But now, CC’s focus is elsewhere.
Clark’s focus: Building her WNBA legacy before the All-Star spotlight
For Clark, the immediate priority isn’t an All-Star Weekend—it’s making her upcoming WNBA season just as memorable as her record-breaking rookie year. She’s locked in, putting in work with Indiana’s new player development coaches.
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Sep 25, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket defended by Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) during the first half during game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
As she recently shared on the Swarmcast podcast, “I feel like this is really my first time in quite some time where I can really focus and be in the gym by myself and with trainers and rebounders or whatever, and really work on things that I need to get better at.”
With NBA All-Star Weekend set for February 14-16, 2025, and the WNBA All-Star Game coming to Indiana on July 19, there’s still time for things to shift. If Clark’s game reaches another level and Steph Curry decides to return the favor by showing up at the WNBA’s marquee event, both leagues could see a massive boost in viewership.
Could that be the matchup that finally makes this cross-league rivalry complete?
Written by
Edited by
Geisha Pulimoottil Don