Who’s the best 3-point shooter? Depends on who you ask.
But Saturday night, basketball fans will finally get to see just who the best of the best is when WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu and NBA star Stephen Curry go head-to-head in a historic 3-point competition during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Who’s The Best 3-Point Shooter – Stephen Curry Or Sabrina Ionescu?
The epic showdown that will ultimately answer the question of who the best 3-point shooter is will be part of NBA All-Star Weekend’s All-Star Night Skills Challenge on Saturday night beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Let’s break down how this competition is looking.
According to CNN, The Golden State Warriors star is a two-time NBA 3-point contest champion and holds the NBA record for most career 3-pointers made with 3,642. The New York Liberty star has also set some impressive records. In 2023, she set the WNBA record for the most 3-point shots in a single season with 128 and set a WNBA and NBA all-time record score in the 3-point contest last season with 37 points out of a possible 40.
And this isn’t the first time these two have hooped together. They played pickup-style games in the past, and Ionescu won a game of H.O.R.S.E. against Curry last year after.
“We’ve competed a couple of times, obviously never on this stage,” she said. “But I feel like we’ve always been competing and being able to keep up with one another from afar.”
The Rules For Saturday Night’s Epic 3-Point Showdown Between Stephen Curry And Sabrina Ionescu
Both players will start with five racks of balls placed at the main shooting locations along the 3-point line. Four of the five racks will include one money ball that’s worth two points. The fifth rack will be all money balls and will be placed at the shooter’s choice location. There will also be two Starry Range balls from deep shot locations. These balls are worth three points.
Each player has 70 seconds to attempt their shots. The competition will follow a similar rule format as the standard 3-Point Contest.
The official rules state that Ionescu will shoot from the WNBA 3-point line (20 feet, 6 inches) and Curry at the NBA 3-point line (23 feet, 9 inches), but Ionescu decided since she practices from NBA range, she will use the NBA line as well.
“Personally, I shoot from men’s range, to begin with, I practice from that range,” Ionescu said, according to Reuters.
“Knowing that I had the opportunity to pick what line I wanted to shoot from, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to shoot from the NBA line and prove that we’re capable and we’re willing. It’s not something that took a lot of convincing and knowing I wanted to equal the playing field.”
With Ionescu shooting from the NBA 3-point line, the only difference between the two will be that Ionescu will be using regulation WNBA balls while Curry will be using standard NBA balls.
So maybe you’re wondering what the betting odds are for this history making matchup.
Ionescu is a +185 longshot at BetMGM. She received one-sided action with 74.3 percent of the bets and 89.7 percent of the money backing her to beat Curry.
Curry is a -220 at DraftKings and is backed by only 23 percent of the bets and 15 percent of the money.
Who’s your money on?
NBA All-Star Weekend Continues Saturday And Sunday!
NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis began on Friday night with the celebrity game and the Rising Stars game.
Saturday has a packed lineup of basketball excitement. At 11 a.m. ET, catch NBA All-Star Practice presented by AT&T, and at 2 p.m. ET, the HBCU Classic presented by AT&T where Winston-Salem State vs. Virginia Union.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will hold a news conference at 7 p.m. ET. The State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, featuring the Kia Skills Challenge, Starry 3-Point Contest, Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge and AT&T Slam Dunk competition, begins at 8 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s lineup includes the NBA Legends Brunch at 11 a.m. ET, G League Up Next Game presented by AT&T at 1:30 p.m. ET and the grand finale of the weekend, the 73rd NBA All-Star Game beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
For more information and where to watch each event, visit the NBA’s website.
