There will be no rematch between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu at this year's All-Star Weekend.
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The NBA confirmed Thursday that the 3-point shooting challenge, which captivated audiences at last year's All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, will not be part of the festivities in San Francisco. The event, which featured Curry and Ionescu—two of the most prominent figures in basketball—had drawn considerable interest after the two faced off in 2024.
Discussions over the past several weeks to bring the rematch to fruition ultimately fell through, despite the potential appeal of hosting it on Curry's home turf. Curry, who plays for the Golden State Warriors, had expressed interest in another showdown. Ionescu, a Bay Area native and WNBA champion with the New York Liberty, had also voiced enthusiasm about the idea.
"We weren't able to land on a plan we thought would raise the bar off of last year's special moment," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement. "We all agreed not to proceed and will instead keep the focus on All-Star Sunday's new format."
Although the two stars had discussed the possibility of a 2-on-2 contest, involving Klay Thompson and WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, those plans faltered. Clark's representatives made it clear last month that she intended for her first 3-point contest appearance to take place at the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, rather than during the NBA's marquee event.
As the potential for a 2-on-2 competition waned, there were still hopes of featuring a Curry-Ionescu showdown during Sunday's mini-tournament at this year's All-Star Weekend. However, those plans were ultimately scrapped.
"I think he has a partner in mind that's going to join him," Ionescu said last year, referring to Curry's desire for a teammate. "So I'm open to any partner that could help me win and take that belt that he has up front and center away from him."
Curry defeated Ionescu 29-26 in the inaugural 3-point challenge at last year's event. The competition, which helped raise money for both players' charitable foundations, became one of the highlights of the 2024 All-Star Weekend.
Curry, 36, is a four-time NBA champion and holds the record for both 3-point attempts and makes in league history, shooting a career 42.4%. Ionescu, 27, is a 36.4% 3-point shooter through her first five WNBA seasons.
