Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu are gearing up for a unique and one-off cross-league NBA-WNBA three-point shootout for this year's All-Star Weekend festivities.
Curry, widely regarded as the greatest three-point shooter in the game's history, is the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made, both regular season and playoffs. He has also won the NBA Three-Point contest twice, in 2015 and 2021.
On the other hand, Ionescu has established herself as one of the WNBA's premier shooters. In the 2023 WNBA season, she set a single-season record by making 128 three-pointers, leading the league in this category.
Following Ionescu's remarkable performance in the final round of the WNBA 3-Point Contest at the WNBA All-Star Weekend in July 2023, where she scored 37 points out of a possible 40 (making 25 of 27 shots), setting new records for both the WNBA and NBA single-round events and securing her first contest win, she issued a challenge to Curry.
The two-time NBA MVP, who held the previous single-round record with 31 points, accepted the challenge and set the stage for this event.
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Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge Format
The format of the Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge closely mirrors the 2024 Starry Three-Point Contest, with the primary distinction being that Curry will use NBA basketballs from the NBA three-point line, while Ionescu will shoot with WNBA basketballs from the WNBA three-point line.
However, Ionescu intends to shoot from the NBA three-point line.
Curry and Ionescu will participate in a timed shooting competition with ball racks strategically positioned at five key locations along the three-point arc.
Four of these racks contain four standard game balls and one multi-colored "money" ball, where each standard ball contributes one point, and the multi-colored "money" ball is worth two points.
An additional element is the fifth and special "all money ball" rack, allowing competitors to choose its placement among the five main shooting locations, with each ball on this rack valued at two points.
Two ball pedestals are placed at "Starry Range," 29 feet and nine inches from the basket, positioned between racks 2 and 3, and the other between racks 3 and 4. Each pedestal features a unique "Starry" ball, and shots made with this ball earn 3 points.
Each participant has a designated 70 seconds (1:10) to shoot as many of the 27 balls as possible within the competition's time frame.
Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge Date and Time
The Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge is set to occur on Saturday, February 17, at the Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, the home venue of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
While there is no precise start time for the Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge, the evening's festivities will begin at 8 PM Eastern Time or 5 PM Pacific Time.
This cross-NBA-WNBA event will be the third and penultimate spectacle of the night, following the Kia Skills Challenge and the Starry Three-Point Contest and preceding the Slam Dunk Contest.
The evening will feature an innovative glass LED court, providing a platform for various captivating animations. Dynamic elements such as a continuously changing three-point line, engaging court graphics, and other visually stunning effects will be present.
All the events slated for that day, including the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday, will unfold at the football stadium.
In contrast, the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday is scheduled to be held at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home arena for the Indiana Pacers.
How to watch Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge
The Stephen vs Sabrina 3-Point Challenge will receive national coverage on TNT, and for viewers who prefer streaming, it will be available on TNTdrama.com.
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