Bollywood Fever: Caitlin Clark has revealed she turned down the opportunity to compete in the 3-point contest during the WNBA All-Star weekend, citing the need for rest. Clark, who has become one of the most prominent figures in women’s basketball over the past year, was invited to participate in the competition on Friday night but declined the invitation ahead of Saturday’s All-Star Game.
The Indiana Fever rookie faced criticism for her decision, with ESPN analyst David Dennis Jr. stating that she had “no excuse” to opt-out. However, Clark explained to reporters that after a year of continuous basketball, prioritizing her health and well-being is essential.
“Honestly, I think just rest,” Clark said regarding her decision. “I’ve been playing basketball for a year straight. That’s not an easy thing to just show up to and shoot off a rack. It’s not something I’ve ever done before. It’s not something that I’ve had a lot of time to practice. So I’m just enjoying this break. I think there’s gonna be a lot of opportunities for me to do this at some point.”
Clark has had a whirlwind year, reaching the March Madness Championship game with Iowa and being selected by Indiana with the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft. The 22-year-old has made a strong start in the league, setting records and leading in assists per game (8.2).
Alongside Clark, the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu also declined an offer to compete in the 3-point contest, though she did not provide a reason. The challenge will feature New York’s Jonquel Jones, Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey, Washington’s Stefanie Dolson, and Minnesota’s Kayla McBride.
“The field of shooters we have in the competition are really good. They’re all like near-40 percent shooters,” Clark continued. “So I’m excited for them, I’ll be there supporting them and it’ll be fun. But yeah, I think the biggest thing for me was that I need a break and I need to take some time for myself to enjoy what I want to do. At times that can get tough being in the position that I’m in, but I think it’s gonna be healthiest for myself.”
Clark and Ionescu’s absences will be notable at Friday’s competition in Phoenix, as both are among the league’s most prolific 3-point shooters. While Clark ranks 37th in the league with 32.7-percent accuracy from 3-point range, she has made 71 shots from deep this season, placing her third in the league. Ionescu is in second with 74 3-pointers and ranks 24th in accuracy at 35.6 percent.
Despite the criticisms, Clark remains focused on her health and future opportunities, indicating her decision to rest is ultimately the best for her long-term career.
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