Curry to face Ionescu in the final 3‑point clash between two record-breakers
6:33 AM EST, January 31, 2024
31 points record of Curry will be thrown into the test with 37 of Sabrina Ionescu- WNBA single-season 3-point record holder and New York Liberty guard.
Two of the fans' favorites set to collide
Curry again raised the challenge when he was mic’d up during Golden State’s Jan. 25 game against the Sacramento Kings on TNT: "I think I gotta bring her out…we gotta settle this once and for all." Ionescu responded on social media, officially accepting the challenge. After seeing the statement online, people instantly got heated for what is to be the final clash of the best 3-pointers of all time
: "Whoa, a showdown between two amazing talents? Count me in! This has got to be one epic faceoff. " One of them wrote on X, and we couldn't agree more.
First time from the NBA distance?
Besides Sabrina holding a better 3-point contest record than Curry, Stephen looks to be a favorite in the clash. Why so? The 3-point line in the NBA is 23 feet and 9 inches from the basket, while Ionescu is used to shooting from much shorter distances since the line in the WNBA is 20 feet and 6 inches. Sabrina seems more excited than concerned; on her X profile, she answered the announcement with a short "I’ll shoot from the NBA line… let's GET IT!!!!!!!"
The NBA official site, while revealing the rules, ended the discussions. The All-Star Saturday Night will have Curry shoot NBA balls from the NBA's distance while Sabrina will stick to smaller WNBA balls from the 20 feet 6 inches line.
Shots for Charity
A big part of the competition will be helping. As part of the show, Curry’s "Eat.Learn.Play." nonprofit and Ionescu’s "SI20" Foundation will receive donations from the NBA and WNBA. Besides the base, every far-shot made by Curry and Ionescu will trigger a donation from State Farm to the NBA Foundation to support economic empowerment in the Black community. Each regular 3-pointer made will be valued at $1,000, the special money ball at $2,000, and the so-called "STARRY Range Ball" – a deep 3-pointer from 29 feet, 9 inches away – at $3,000.
The competition will air on 17th February, just after the regular STARRY 3- 3-point contest just before the slum dunk show.
WBAS fans see the clash as an ample opportunity to show women's basketball to the biggest audience possible. At the same time, the other side states that it will finally end a discussion with the significant dominance from Stephen's side. What do you think? Can Curry go over 25 out of 27 balls made to beat Sabrina's record, or maybe she'll come prepared to break it?
