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Grading WNBA All-Star contests: Sabrina Ionescu's 3-point performance sets high bar
INDIANAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu admitted that she started listening to the crowd toward the end of the final round of Friday's 3-point competition. She had already hit 11 3s in a row in the middle of her round, electrifying the crowd inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. All she needed to do was close the competition strongly. Perhaps only Ionescu would call out what she didn't do after recording 30 points in the final round, tying the second-highest score in the event's history and becoming only the second player ever to win multiple 3-point contests. Ionescu is the WNBA's best 3-point shooter, and she cemented her crown with another dazzling display. 'I haven't done this in a little while, so to be able to be back in a shootout is always fun,' she said. Ionescu called Stephen Curry after winning her second WNBA 3-point competition to show off her trophy. Curry beat Ionescu in a one-on-one shooting competition at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, and she was excited to make her return. She didn't take any practice shots off the rack until just before the competition, and she said she felt no added pressure after seeing New York Liberty teammate Natasha Cloud win the skills competition. It was a night for New York to remember. 'For me to be able to share it with my teammate, who I share the locker room with every day, is really special,' Ionescu said. As a team, the Liberty would receive an A+ for Friday night's results, but here are the grades for all the other participants in Friday night's events. Skills competition Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm: C Diggins was one of two Storm players who participated in Friday night's event, and she had the second-best betting odds pre-competition. But she missed her first two jump shots from each of the wing, elbow and corner, and then she dropped the basketball when picking it up before the final layup sprint. She was still shaking her head about missing out on the potential prize money when she caught up afterward with members of the Seattle organization, including Nneka Ogwumike and coach Noelle Quinn. Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx: C+ Williams had the difficult task of opening the night's festivities as the first competitor in the skills challenge, not knowing what time would be necessary to advance. The two-time All-Star guard has been one of the stars of the weekend, as she and Minnesota teammate Natisha Hiedeman have streamed their time in Indy on Twitch. Williams didn't set a high enough bar in her only skills challenge round, however. She threw two errant chest passes and missed the first try of her right wing and left elbow jumpers. It didn't take her long to know she didn't set a high enough mark (42 seconds). After Natasha Cloud finished her first round with a 34.1-second run, Williams leaned back on the bench in some frustration. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream: B- Gray entered the event looking to duplicate her winning performance from the 2024 All-Star Game in Phoenix. She even won Team Collier's half-court shooting contest during Friday's practice, earning her a little more money. However, she left Friday's skills challenge without a big check. She threw three off-target chest passes and then missed her first 3-pointer from the right wing, a four-play stretch that doomed her repeat chances. Erica Wheeler, Seattle Storm: B+ Wheeler was scheduled to participate in last year's All-Star skills competition when she was still playing with the Fever, but travel issues prevented her from getting to Phoenix in time. After putting up a 36.5-second first round on Friday, she said that she felt a jolt and some comfort from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd, which still shows her love. Wheeler was patient on all of her first-round jumpers and her outlet pass. Although she missed her first layup attempt — the only player in the competition to do so — she still advanced to the final round. Her final round was slightly slower at 37.5 seconds, and Wheeler anxiously watched as Cloud just barely beat her. Though Wheeler missed out on a $55,000 paycheck from the Aflac/WNBPA bonus, she still seemed to be in good spirits postgame, running up to Cloud almost immediately to congratulate her. Natasha Cloud, New York Liberty: A Cloud said that Ionescu, the 2022 skills champion, told her to be patient while maneuvering through the course. She was patient yet fast, finishing with the best time in the first round (34.1), despite missing all three of her right-wing 3-point attempts. Though Cloud struggled on shooting elements in the final, she showed why she is one of the league's fastest players with the ball in her hands. As she closed out the competition, Cloud made the outlet pass on her first try and finished the layup to edge Wheeler by 1.1 seconds. Ionescu watched from the other end of the court and immediately beelined to her teammate once Cloud's victory was official. She said she would use the $55,000 paycheck for a down payment on a house, which sounds like a smart investment. 3-point contest Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics: C+ Citron was the lone rookie involved in the events, and she put up a solid showing in her debut performance. She was perfect on her five 3-pointers from the top of the key but had poor placement on her moneyball rack, making only one of her attempts from the right wing (which was also the chosen spot for Plum and Gray). Had she picked the middle of the floor, perhaps Citron could have pulled off an upset. There is another bright spot for Citron here: Ionescu said she would give her half of the $60,000-winning check if Ionescu won the competition, commending Citron for participating as a rookie. Ionescu confirmed she would do so post-competition. Not a bad payday at all for finishing last. Lexie Hull, Indiana Fever: C+ Hull was the only Fever player to participate in Friday's events after Caitlin Clark had to withdraw due to injury. Clark and several Indiana teammates cheered on Hull from courtside, but there was no home-court advantage. Hull missed her first four 3-pointers, and although she made four of her final five shots, she came up short with her first-round score of 20. Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks: B- Plum entered the event looking to improve on her debut 3-point contest performance in 2022, when she scored only 14 out of a possible 34 points. She was much better during her second time in the competition, finishing with a solid first-round score of 22 after getting hot in the back half of the competition. She temporarily looked poised to advance to the final, but Gray later knocked her out with a strong closing stretch. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream: B+ Gray looked to become the first repeat 3-point shootout contest champion since Allie Quigley in 2021 and 2022, and the event's second multi-time winner. Her first round was a good start toward that goal, as she tied Ionescu with 25 points and was consistent throughout, making at least three jumpers on each rack. Ionescu's final total of 30 seemed to throw off Gray, however, as she missed her first four attempts. She was eliminated by the third rack, when she went 0 for 5 at the top of the key. Gray's final score of 22 was still tied for the highest of anyone but Ionescu, and it was equal to her winning score in 2024. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty: A+ Ionescu gets the highest grade as she became just the second multi-time 3-point champion in event history. She set the bar high in the first round, recording a score of 25 points. Although she didn't eclipse her 37-point performance from 2023, she did hit 11 consecutive 3s in the final round, replicating much of the same in-arena energy that she sparked a few years ago when she hit 20 consecutive 3-pointers. Ionescu said she felt the juice of the crowd, and she put on another show fans will remember. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
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2 days ago
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Warriors' Stephen Curry shades Charles Barkley to answer LeBron golf question
The post Warriors' Stephen Curry shades Charles Barkley to answer LeBron golf question appeared first on ClutchPoints. Golden State Warriors great Stephen Curry is obviously monitoring what his team is doing in the offseason, as the Dubs try to collectively stave off Father Time, but he is shifting his focus to the Edge Wood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada. The four-time NBA champion is looking to reclaim his title at the American Century Championship, the annual celebrity tournament that brings together many current and former athletes as well as celebrities. Some people are wondering if LeBron James will find his way to the event at some point in the future. The all-time great and Los Angeles Lakers superstar has entered the golf world after posting videos of himself playing a couple of rounds at the beginning of July. Curry formally welcomed James to the sport, expressing optimism that the 40-year-old has the potential to become a respectable player. He is worried about his unorthodox swing, though. One reporter asked the 2022 Finals MVP if he could envision the 6-foot-9 James competing in the American Century Championship. Curry bluntly answered the question, using another NBA legend to make his point. 'I mean, Charles [Barkley] plays, so probably,' he told reporters on Thursday, per Golf Digest. It is commonplace to mock The Round Mound of Rebound for his golf skills. Those who know nothing about the game can tell you that Barkley is not good at it. The jokes have become trite at this point, but what gives life to Curry's barb is the matter-of-fact way in which he delivered it. The greatest shooter of all-time does not even crack a smile. Stephen Curry looks to add to his trophy collection Judging by his demeanor, Curry truly believes that if the longtime hoops analyst can gain entry into golf tournaments with the notorious hitch in his swing, then so could LeBron James. He may have just given his fellow regular season MVP some extra motivation before the American Century Championship tees off on Friday. Stephen Curry will open play around 9: 30 am local time, fittingly competing in a first-round paring that includes Dell and Seth Curry, his father and brother, respectively. Charles Barkley will start a little later and is grouped with comedians Larry the Cable Guy and Nate Bargatze. That unique trio is rivaled only by the random Group One, which consists of television host Carson Daly, Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens. While most of the 90 participants are just there to raise money for some good causes and enjoy the nice weather Stateline has to offer, Curry is a legitimate contender. He topped the field of competition in 2023, sinking a walk-off eagle to edge out retired tennis player Mardy Fish and deliver possibly the most thrilling moment in the event's history. No. 30 skipped the tourney last year, instead preparing for the Paris Olympics with Team USA. That sacrifice ended up working out pretty well. Curry aims to take back his crown in 2025, however. If he claims first place once again, then perhaps both Barkley and James should ask for lessons. Related: LeBron James' golf swing mocked by Stephen Curry, followed by a message Related: Warriors' Stephen Curry drops retirement timeline from American Century
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Warriors' Stephen Curry drops retirement timeline from American Century
The post Warriors' Stephen Curry drops retirement timeline from American Century appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has clarified his stance on retirement. Speaking on Thursday during the American Century Championship golf tournament, the 37-year-old point guard stated, 'I don't know. I'm just taking it two years at a time. That's what I have left on my contract right now,' Curry said, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Curry, who has spent all 16 of his NBA seasons with the Warriors, remains one of the league's top performers despite his age. During the 2024–25 regular season, he averaged 24.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 44.8% from the field, 39.7% from three-point range, and 93.3% from the free-throw line. In the playoffs, he posted 22.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds across 35.1 minutes per game. Curry's decision-making timeline has provided clarity to the Warriors' front office. With two years potentially remaining in Curry's career, Golden State is operating in full 'win-now' mode. The franchise has surrounded him with a veteran star like Jimmy Butler, abandoning the previous 'two-timeline' strategy of combining young talent with established stars. Rumors have also linked the team to Al Horford in an attempt to bolster the veteran core further. Curry has been increasingly open about contemplating retirement. Speaking with ESPN's Malika Andrews last December, he acknowledged: 'More than I probably have before. I think, you know, it's okay to accept and acknowledge that the end is near, whatever point. But only because it allows you to enjoy what's happening right now. But I think the more you talk about it, the more you acknowledge it, it levels up just the sense of urgency of the moment now.' He doubled down on this mindset during a February interview with Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, saying: 'You think about that more and more. I'm not at the farewell yet. That's just part of time. If you're fighting human nature or fighting the inevitable in that, then … I don't think you're handling it right. Because you need a little bit of fear of what's coming, what an end might look like, to inform decisions that you're making now and appreciate what's going on right now.' Stephen Curry's historical impact is both undeniable and underrated. In HoopsHype's ranking of the NBA's 79 greatest players, Curry was placed 13th, below Kevin Durant and above Oscar Robertson. The publication recognized Curry as 'the greatest shooter ever' and credited him with revolutionizing the way basketball is played. However, some pundits view his lower ranking as a reflection of persistent under-appreciation, especially when compared to peers like Bill Russell and Kobe Bryant, whose team impact has been more widely celebrated. Amid the Warriors' struggles in recent seasons, Curry's individual legacy continues to grow. His resume includes four NBA championships, two league MVP awards, one Finals MVP, two scoring titles, 11 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA honors, and an Olympic gold medal. He is also the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made. Related: Warriors' Stephen Curry shades Charles Barkley to answer LeBron golf question Related: LeBron James' golf swing mocked by Stephen Curry, followed by a message
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2 days ago
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Stephen Curry Reacts As Three-Time NBA Champion Kevon Looney Bids Farewell To Warriors
Stephen Curry Reacts As Three-Time NBA Champion Kevon Looney Bids Farewell To Warriors originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Warriors did not make any major additions to their roster this offseason so far, but they lost a pivotal piece of their dynasty run. Kevon Looney, the three-time NBA champion, was not extended by the Warriors and joined the Pelicans in free agency on a two-year, $16 million deal. After the trade became official on July 6th, Looney penned down a heartfelt letter to the Warriors organization, its fans, and the city of San Francisco. Seeing this letter, the Warriors' superstar Stephen Curry took to Instagram and penned a sincere message for his departing teammate. "Forever a legend, Toon!!!! 17 on the clock!" wrote the Warriors superstar. Looney was drafted by the Warriors before their historic 2015-16 season, right after winning the first championship of their dynasty run. In his message written for the Players' Tribune, Looney recalls how the Warriors' core of Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and their head coach, Steve Kerr, helped him feel comfortable and be his true self on the court. It wasn't by motivation, but rather showing him the crude, raw emotions that go behind the work that the Warriors put in during the practice. He claims he witnessed a screaming match between Kerr and Green, which helped him be himself with the team. "Steph and Klay and them, they like to say that I didn't talk to anyone for the first six months. And I dispute that for sure. But I will admit that I only really started being myself after I saw Coach Kerr and Draymond screaming at each other during that game at OKC when Steph hit the half-court buzzer-beater in OT." "Before that, there was no adversity. We would basically never lose, or really even come close to losing. There was nothing to get worked up about. No reasons to be fiery or passionate. And to me it was … weird." "It was like everything was too perfect, you know what I mean? And that made me uncomfortable. Because I knew full well that me? Some young kid from Milwaukee? I was far from perfect. So I was walking on eggshells. Basically stayed keeping quiet." "But when I saw Dray and Coach go at it that night? Saw them be human and show some raw emotion? Saw how much they cared, the fire? Everything kind of changed for me right then. That was the kind of thing I was used to with hoops. It was like….OK, I'm home." During his ten seasons with the Warriors, the 29-year-old Looney averaged 5.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 57.5% from the field. While he was in the nascent stages of his career in the first two championships, he was pivotal in the Warriors' 2022 championship run. The Warriors, however, seem to be nearing an implosion as they seem to be messing up their younger core while keeping on the aging veterans like Draymond Green, who do not have many good years left in the league. Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski are arguably the only promising young players left on this team, with Jonathan Kuminga on the verge of an exit. With no veteran center on the roster anymore, the Warriors will likely now rely even more on their sophomore center Quinten Post. Or they would likely move to their small-ball style with Green at the center position. The Warriors are reportedly looking at several options, like Al Horford, to find a veteran center for their team. But with limited options in free agency, will we finally see the Warriors make a trade this offseason? Or will they resort to veteran options like Horford? Let us know what you think about where the Warriors go from story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Stephen Curry Indirectly Confirms Warriors Signing Al Horford After His Own Retirement Update
Stephen Curry Indirectly Confirms Warriors Signing Al Horford After His Own Retirement Update originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Warriors' rumored interest in Al Horford was reportedly confirmed after sources claimed that they have agreed on a handshake deal with the former Celtics veteran to join Golden State. Following this, Stephen Curry, the Warriors superstar, was asked about Al Horford during the 36th Annual American Century Championship, and his response seemed to indicate that the wheels are in motion for the Warriors to acquire the veteran from the free agency market. 'He's a champion, great player. When… if, when all that stuff happens, I'll talk about it.' Seems like it is no longer a question of 'if' but rather 'when'. Curry praised the former NBA champion but refused to delve deeper into his feelings about him until the deal is officially done. Just moments before answering this question, Curry was asked how long he plans to play in the NBA, i.e, when he plans to retire from the NBA. He seemed unsure of the timeline but said that he is deciding based on two-year spans. 'I don't know. I'm just taking it two years at a time. That's what I have left on my contract right now.' Curry is currently on the Warriors' payroll until the end of the 2027 season. He signed a one-year extension worth $62.6 million and is now expected to stay with the Warriors for at least two more seasons. At this stage in his career, Curry's most probable primary factor for consideration in deciding whether to retire is whether he can still compete for a championship with the Warriors. The potentially confirmed signing of Al Horford may have just bolstered their chances. Analyzing Warriors' Championship Hopes With Stephen Curry And Al Horford If Horford is officially confirmed soon as a Warrior, he will be replacing Kevon Looney's absence on the roster, but as a small-ball center. The 6'9 veteran averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for the Celtics last season and can stretch the floor to create spacing for the Warriors. Horford shot 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from range last season, but also had back-to-back seasons before the last one where he shot over 40% from range as well. Therefore, his scoring threat also adds a burden on defenses that Looney just couldn't do. Last season (2024-25), the Warriors were eliminated in the second round against the Timberwolves after losing Curry to an injury in Game 1 of their series. They were arguably in a position to threaten a Finals run if Curry was not injured. Therefore, Curry may still feel that this roster, with the core of Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, can compete for a championship. With the likely addition of Horford's veteran experience to this team, the Warriors are once again among the favorites in the West to reach the Playoffs at least. This beckons the unanswered question that now plagues Curry's career: When is it the right time for him to hang up his boots? The answer that Warriors fans are likely hoping for is never. But it is important to note that Curry will be 38 years old at the end of his current contract with the Warriors. Since he's arguably been the best player in Warriors history, Curry no longer has anything to prove to anyone but himself. Curry has averaged 24.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game for his four championships in his career. Do you think Curry still needs to push himself to win another championship? Or should he hang up his boots and embrace Father Time? Let us know what you think in the comments story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
