Sabrina Ionescu makes history as the second player in WNBA history to capture multiple WNBA 3-point contest titles. With a Liberty Sweep, New York guard Natasha Cloud took home the Skills Challenge trophy.
It’s Sabrina Ionescu’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
The winner of the 2025 WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest, Ionescu joins former flamethrower Allie Quigley as the only players in WNBA history to capture multiple 3-Point titles. The Brooklyn 3-point Queen, Ionescu notably captured the 2023 WNBA 3-Point Shootout title, breaking the NBA and WNBA single-round record with 37 points. In a New York sweep, her teammate Natasha Cloud came out victorious in the Skills Challenge.
On Friday night, Ionescu returned to Indianapolis, where she is widely known for her shootout against Stephen Curry in the 2024 NBA 3-Point Contest. ‘Steph vs. Sabrina,’ Ionescu went head-to-head with Curry in front of over 55,000 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Although she came up short, Ionescu earned redemption last night. All while rocking her newly debuted ‘Bring the Heat’ Sabrina 3 kicks.
“It means everything,” Ionescu told ESPNs Holly Rowe. “The last time I was here in Indy against Steph [Curry], I lost, so I feel like I had to come back and redeem myself.”
In her second career 3-Point Contest appearance, Sabrina did not disappoint. She shot the lights out in front of 15,139 fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, alongside Kelsey Plum (Sparks), Lexie Hull (Fever), Sonia Citron (Mystics), and Allisha Gray (Dream). Ionescu recorded 25 points alone in the first round, including a Starry 3-point bonus ball, and hit 13 of her last 16 shots.
Eliminated before the final round, Plum finished with 22 points in the first round. Hometown favorite Hull recorded 20 points, despite participating on short notice due to Caitlin Clark’s injury. Meanwhile, rookie Citron posted the lowest score with 19 first-round points.
Sabrina Ionescu Puts On a Show in Indianapolis
Looking to defend her 3-Point title from last year, Gray finished with a stellar 25 first-round points, which propelled her into the Finals against Ionescu. From there, Ionescu took it to the next level. In pure Sab fashion, No. 20 edged out Gray with 30 final-round points. With a ‘you bet‘ and ‘oh my‘ from ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco, Ionescu made 11 straight shots, emptied the entire money rack on the wing, and hit both Starry balls.
Sabrina Ionescu puts up a MONSTER 30 PTS to reclaim her STARRY 3-Point Contest title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qgRwN2OPTQ
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 19, 2025
Needing 31 points to defeat Sabrina, Gray finished with a respectable 22 points in the final round. Despite a slow start, she closed strong, hitting six in a row toward the end.
Although she cooled off toward the back half of the final round, Ionescu eclipsed the second-highest score ever with 30 points. Among the most pristine shooters in the world, Sabrina was still deemed ‘disappointed’ after the performance.
“Well, I’m pretty disappointed,” Ionescu told Rowe. “I feel like I missed a few easy ones there that I definitely could’ve made, so I’m sorry about that.”
Ionescu is Spreading the Wealth
Sabrina Ionescu said she’s giving half of her winnings to Sonia Citron after telling her she would if she won. pic.twitter.com/A3GO5pFOw2
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) July 19, 2025
In reality, Ionescu may have high standards for herself, but she put on a show for the fans. She also selflessly announced that she would split the $62,575 she earned from winning the shootout between rookie participant Sonia Citron and her own SI20 Charitable Foundation. Of that total, Ionescu received $60,000 from Aflac and $2,575 from the WNBA. This highlights the importance of the ongoing CBA negotiations between the players’ association and the league regarding high salaries.
This is a sizable amount for Citron, who signed a three-year, $247,688 rookie contract with the Mystics. For some, a first place prize of $60,000 is more than half of their current WNBA salary. Ionescu has been in Citron’s shoes before and understands the nerves that come with being the only rookie competitor. Often nervous before games, Ionescu was caught vomiting during Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals.
“I told Sonia [Citron] I would give her half if I won, when we were sitting on the bench,” Ionescu said in a presser. “Being the only rookie—she was nervous, and I was nervous for her. I obviously have to hold up my end of the bargain. Half is going to go to her…”
“I gotta text her [Citron] and let her know that I’m going to give her half of it. Just for participating, that takes a lot of courage to be able to do that as a rookie… then the other half will go to my foundation to continue to give back in communities that mean a lot to me.”
Sa-Three-Na Continues to Shine
Ionescu, 27, adds another personal accolade to her collection. Drafted first overall by the New York Liberty in 2020, No. 20 has compiled quite the illustrious and decorated career so far. A WNBA champion through five seasons, Ionescu is a a four-time WNBA All-Star, was named three-time All-WNBA Second Team. Currently, she holds the record for most 3-pointers in a WNBA single season with 128.
Proud dad moment 🥹 pic.twitter.com/8mX3YjocDC
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 19, 2025
Most recently, Ionescu became the New York Liberty’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made, with 401. On June 5 against the Mystics, she passed Crystal Robinson for the top spot in franchise history.
Sabrina Ionescu will represent Team Clark tonight, July 19, in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, led by head coach Sandy Brondello. Set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET, the game will air on ABC. Ironically, the Liberty will resume their season against the Fever in Indiana on July 22.
Follow Sara Jane Gamelli on X @SaraJGamelli.
