Fans were eagerly anticipating a historic three-point shootout at the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend, hoping to see WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark go head-to-head with Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry.
However, reports now confirm that Clark has declined an invitation to participate, leaving many wondering why the Iowa superstar turned WNBA rookie made the decision.
Clark, who broke records in her first professional season, finishing just six three-pointers short of the all-time WNBA record for most threes in a season, was widely expected to join this year’s revamped NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest.
The event was set to feature Curry, Sabrina Ionescu and Klay Thompson, creating a cross-league competition unlike anything seen before. But Clark‘s absence has left fans speculating on her reasons for opting out.
Why did Clark decline the invitation?
While many assumed Clark was simply prioritizing rest before the WNBA season, TV personality and former basketball player Rachel DeMita suggested a different reason for Clark‘s absence.
“From what we have seen in her workouts and all, Caitlin seems like the type of person if she’s going to do this contest she wants to win it,” DeMita explained during a segment.
She went on to describe Clark‘s competitive mindset, likening her approach to that of the late Kobe Bryant.
“She seems psychotic… she seems to have that Kobe mentality. When I say psychotic, guys, I mean that as a good thing. I think any great athlete is a little bit crazy. I think Caitlin is too, but in the best way-she has that Kobe mentality,” DeMita added.
According to Sports Business Journal’s Tom Friend, Clark reportedly told the NBA that she’s not interested in shooting off a ball rack, a crucial element of the contest’s format. Unlike the pull-up threes she often takes in-game, this competition requires stationary shooting from racks, something Clark isn’t accustomed to.
A source close to Clark noted that while she is deadly off the dribble, particularly when moving to her left, her lack of experience with rack shooting could have factored into her decision.
Rather than enter a competition where she isn’t fully prepared, Clark may have chosen to wait for an opportunity better suited to her strengths.