Steph vs. Sabrina lived up to the hype. The highly anticipated shooting contest between two of the best shooters in the world, pitting one of the NBA’s biggest stars against one of the WNBA’s biggest stars, was a close one. Steph Curry won 29-26 and it wasn’t settled until the final round when Curry passed Ionescu’s total. He went home with the belt and she said she wanted to win it for him in the future.
But everyone seemed happy with how it went. And what that meant. Ionescu described what it meant to her to participate in this event and become the first woman to participate in the NBA 3-point contest, to be the creator of this unique and only basketball event.
“I think being able to do this crossover and understand the respect that I was able to receive from a lot of guys in the NBA,” she said, “just knowing that Steph wanted to do this as well in terms of respect for a another shooter., and I think it’s going to show a lot of young kids, a lot of people who maybe haven’t believed in or even watched women’s sports, that we are capable of going out there and going up a show and so it was really exciting to finally be able to do that and like Steph said, it came together perfectly.”
Curry has been a big fan of Ionescu since she was at Oregon. He spoke enthusiastically about her skills and mentality that were clear even back when she was putting up triple-doubles in the Pac-12.
Of course, Ionescu then had the best 3-point contest performance of all time last summer, which helped lead to tonight. They each did a show in Indianapolis.
“I knew that no matter how big the scene was, there would be no scene too bright for her,” he said. “The way she started, there was no fear.”
The novelty of the event, the fact that it was the first of its kind, wasn’t just what made the shootout exciting. It was because of the close proximity and great shooting between the two of them. But the fact that they created something new seemed fitting.
“I think that’s kind of what we’ve both done throughout our careers is just create our own space and do it our own way and stay true to ourselves,” Ionescu. “And it was so authentic for both of us to be able to be here.”
Ionescu and Curry discussed what this competition could mean for the advancement of women’s sports. The impact, Curry hopes, will be short-term and long-term.
“The immediate impact of this is just a change, just changing the conversation about the little boys and girls watching us play,” Curry said. “Like no matter what gym you show up to, don’t overlook who’s to your left and right. If they can shoot, they can shoot. And you can compete and have fun.”
Obviously the question now is whether this was just an isolated event.
Well, it looks like we’ll see Steph vs. Sabrina again next year. Ionescu kept saying she’d like to bring him back and it appears there has been some thought about doing so during next year’s All-Star Game in San Francisco. But we can get it in a different format.
She hinted at what that might look like. And yes, she would consider teaming up with Iowa star Caitlin Clark.
“We’re talking about finding different ways to change things next year,” Ionescu said. “I think he has a partner in mind that’s going to help him. I’m open to any partner that can help me win and take away the belt that he has front and center.”
