Gaining Yards

The NBA All Star Weekend took place in Indianapolis this year, and while the rules for the game itself are ever-changing, the weekend is always filled with events basketball fans everywhere enjoy. You have the Skills Challenge, the Slam Dunk contest, and the 3-point shootout. The latter is always an event that gets people talking, but this year people were talking due to  history being made. For the first time ever, two of the best shooters in basketball history (period) would be facing off: Sabrina Ionescu, who plays for the WNBA’s New York Liberty vs NBA Warriors star Steph Curry. And man was it a worthy matchup.

Let me set the stage. Last year, at the WNBA All Star Game in Vegas, Sabrina showed up and showed out at the 3-point contest, breaking the record of the best 3-point performance in both WNBA and NBA history with 37 points. After that W, Sabrina playfully took to X (formerly Twitter) to challenge Steph to a shootout. Steph, a longtime advocate for women’s basketball and friend and fan of Sabrina, accepted. And the rest, as they say, is history.

So cut to last night, Steph and Sabrina faced off, with the winner getting a WWE-style championship belt, and significant funds towards their respective charities. When the competition was originally announced, it was said that Sabrina would be shooting with the WNBA ball, and from the WNBA 3-point line (which is slightly closer than the NBA line). Knowing that the internet would find a way to drag her for that (more on that later), she opted to shoot still with the WNBA ball, but from the standard NBA line. She also regularly shoots from that distance both in practice, and let’s be real, games.

I won’t bore you guys with the rules and the point system for the contest, but yet again Sabrina showed up. She finished her round with 26 points, and started out hitting 7 in a row before she even missed. Steph was up next, and reminded us all why he holds the record for the most 3-points ever in NBA history. He finished with 29, and took home the W and the belt.

Now. Look at those numbers. What Sabrina did was arguably impressive. In the “regular” 3-point contest that happened earlier, NBA star Dame Lillard went into #DameTime mode and ultimately won, but not before tying with Trae Young, Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyrese Haliburton. The magic number in that round? 26 points. In other words, if Sabrina had played in that round, she would’ve not only been a contender, but may have even won.

So, what should’ve been an incredible moment for female athletes—the amount of young girls watching this matchup and seeing that these types of opportunities are possible—instead fell victim to armchair point guards and shooters talking. Even as the event was finishing up, NBA on TNT commentator Kenny Smith was already commenting about how she should’ve just shot from the WNBA line. And began making excuses about the size of the WNBA ball. Instead of giving Sabrina her flowers for holding her own against the greatest 3-point shooter of all-time, he had to dull her shine. And he did this when she only lost by 3 measly points (and anyone who has seen her game, knows she should’ve made a couple more at the top rack).

What’s disappointing is Sabrina—and pretty much all female athletes and fans—knew this was coming. It’s part of why she opted to move to the NBA line in the first place. She knew that if she won shooting from the WNBA arc, her performance somehow wouldn’t be legit; that somehow the game would’ve been rigged. So even though she leveled the playing field to the best of her ability, she still got flack. Even though, again, she put up the same numbers as all the non-Steph NBA players who competed.

It should be said, that Sabrina’s supporters were making their voices heard too. Fellow commentator and NBA great Reggie Miller tried to put Kenny in his place. WNBA legends Rebecca Lobo and Dawn Stanley sent love. And everyday fans and viewers shared their excitement and awe at what Sabrina accomplished.

At the end of the conference, Sabrina reiterated how important this moment was and how honored she felt to be a part of it. She also reminded fans—and Kenny’s  everywhere—that it doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl: “If you can shoot, you can shoot.” 

Sabrina proved that to be true. Hopefully her performance—and the buzz and excitement it generated— makes way for more of these types of competitions in the future. Not because a woman needs to compete against a man to make her skills, talent or passion worthy, but to show that female athletes are a force to be reckoned with—on the court and off. 

The internet is already asking for them to run it back with a Round 2 at the WNBA All Star Game, and with some potential reinforcements, it could make for an even more incredible showdown. Looking at you, Caitlin Clark.