Caitlin Clark has revealed she turned down the chance to compete in the 3-point contest on WNBA All-Star weekend because she needs a ‘rest’.
Clark, who has emerged as the biggest star in women’s basketball over the past year, was offered to participate in the competition on Friday night, only to decline the invitation ahead of Saturday’s All-Star Game.
The Indiana Fever rookie drew criticism after snubbing the 3-point contest, with ESPN analyst David Dennis Jr fuming that she had ‘no excuse’ to do so.
Yet in a conversation with reporters ahead of the skills challenge, Clark admitted she needs to prioritize her own health and wellbeing after a hectic year in the sport.
‘Honestly, I think just rest,’ she said when asked about not taking part in the competition. ‘I’ve been playing basketball for a year straight.
So I’m just enjoying this break. I think there’s gonna be a lot of opportunities for me to do this at some point.
Clark has enjoyed a whirlwind year after reaching the March Madness Championship game with Iowa and then being selected by Indiana with the first overall pick at the WNBA Draft.
The 22-year-old has made a strong start to life in the big leagues, setting a host of records while leading the WNBA in assists per game (8.2).
As well as Clark, the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu also rejected an offer to compete in the 3-point contest on Friday night, albeit without giving a reason.
Instead, the challenge will include New York’s Jonquel Jones, Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey, Washington’s Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota’s Kayla McBride.
‘The field of shooters we have in the competition are really good. They’re all like near-40 percent shooters,’ Clark continued. ‘So I’m excited for them, I’ll be there supporting them and it’ll be fun.
But yeah, I think the biggest thing for me was that I need a break and I need to take some time for myself to enjoy what I want to do.
‘At times that can get tough being in the position that I’m in, but I think it’s gonna be healthiest for myself.’
Clark and Ionescu’s absences will be notable at Friday’s competition in Phoenix as both rank among the league’s most prolific 3-point shooters.
While Clark ranks only 37th in the league with 32.7-percent accuracy from 3-point range, she’s hit 71 shots from deep this season, which is good enough for third in the league.
