New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu secured victory in the 2025 WNBA 3-Point Contest on Friday night during the league’s All-Star Weekend held in Indianapolis. Delivering an outstanding performance, Ionescu scored a record-breaking 37 points in the final round, highlighted by an 11-shot streak of consecutive three-pointers.
Intense Competition Among Top Sharpshooters
The contest featured five elite players: Sabrina Ionescu, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, Washington Mystics rookie Sonia Citron, Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull, and Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum. Hull joined the event as a late replacement for Fever’s Caitlin Clark, who was sidelined due to a right groin injury and chose to rest during All-Star Weekend.
In the opening round, Ionescu and Gray both scored 25 points, setting the bar high early on. Gray matched Ionescu’s effort to secure a spot in the finals, while Plum earned third place with 22 points. Hull and Citron posted competitive showings with 20 and 19 points, respectively.
How the Scoring System Worked
The contest was held over two rounds with players shooting from five designated racks positioned around the three-point arc: corners, wings, and the top of the key. Each rack contained five basketballs—four regular WNBA balls worth one point each, and one “money ball” worth two points. Competitors selected their own location for one rack, which consisted entirely of money balls. Additionally, two “STARRY” balls located beyond the elbow on both sides of the top of the key were worth three points apiece.
Ionescu’s Historic Performance and Career Milestone
Notably absent from the 2024 contest, Ionescu returned this year with unprecedented strength, setting a new WNBA and NBA three-point contest record with her total of 37 points in the final round. By winning this title, she became only the second player in WNBA history to secure multiple three-point contest championships, joining Chicago Sky’s Allie Quigley, a three-time winner in the event.
Friends and Rivals on the Court
Ionescu defeated Allisha Gray, the defending champion, who finished with 22 points in the final. Before the contest, she also referenced her previous near-win against NBA star Stephen Curry during last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, where she narrowly lost 29-26. This year, she reversed that outcome with a decisive victory. In a post-contest interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Ionescu reflected on her journey and the significance of returning to claim the crown.
“It was a great night for me and the Liberty to be back at this level.” —Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty Guard
Additional Highlights from the WNBA All-Star Weekend
Earlier Friday, New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud earned the title in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge, beating Seattle Storm guard Erica Wheeler in the final round. Gray also took part in the Skills Challenge and secured third place, further demonstrating the depth of talent present during All-Star Weekend. These events set an exciting stage for the WNBA All-Star Game, scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Players’ Season Context and Performance Stats
Kelsey Plum, a key competitor in the contest, is posting strong season statistics, averaging 20.1 points per game with 2.5 made three-pointers per matchup, ranking her third in the league. Rookie Sonia Citron is also making an impact, averaging 14.1 points per game while ranking among the top 20 in three-pointers made with 1.6 per game. Lexie Hull’s shooting accuracy is impressive as well, converting 46.8 percent of her three-point attempts this season.
Looking Ahead to the All-Star Game
With the three-point contest and skills challenge completed, attention now shifts to the highly anticipated 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Fans will watch to see how the momentum from these events influences individual players and team dynamics during the game set for Saturday evening. Sabrina Ionescu’s remarkable performance places her among the league’s most formidable sharpshooters, positioning her as a key player to watch.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Sabrina Ionescu a millionaire?
A. In 2024, Sabrina Ionescu’s net worth is around $5 million. Her income mainly comes from playing in WNBA games during that year.
Q. Is Sabrina Ionescu black or white?
A. Ionescu was born in Walnut Creek, California, to parents who are Romanian-American. Her father, Dan Ionescu, left Romania during the 1989 revolution to find safety in the United States.
Q. Why did Sabrina Ionescu have surgery?
A. Sabrina Ionescu, a key player for the New York Liberty, had an operation last Friday to fix a torn ligament in her right thumb. She shared this update through her social media account.