Curry defeats Ionescu in NBA vs. WNBA three-point contest

*(CNN) — We all know Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu are nice three-point shooters. However this weekend, we acquired to seek out out who’s the very best.

Curry narrowly defeated Ionescu Saturday when the 2 sharpshooters confronted off throughout All-Star Weekend within the first NBA vs. WNBA three-point contest to settle a long-running debate.

The Golden State Warriors star scored 29 factors to the New York Liberty star who scored 26.

Ionescu mentioned on the TNT broadcast she was excited to “change the narrative” between NBA and WNBA gamers.

“That was wonderful,” Ionescu mentioned. “Simply to have the ability to have this be the primary of this type of occasion and are available out right here and placed on a present however understanding what this implies. Excited to alter the narrative and have the ability to do it alongside the best to ever do it.”

Curry, whereas carrying a three-point champion belt, was complimentary of the occasion and Ionescu.

“This couldn’t have gone any higher within the sense of us two taking the prospect in entrance of this stage, operating round with all of the hype, and to ship like that, she set the bar, it was unbelievable to look at,” Curry mentioned. “So, this is likely to be one thing – I don’t know if anyone can fill these footwear however it is likely to be one thing that we have to do extra usually.”

A dream crossover match-up

Curry is a two-time NBA three-point contest champion and holds the league’s document for many profession three-pointers made (3,642).

Nonetheless, in 2023, Ionescu set the WNBA document for many three-pointers in a single season (128). She additionally set a WNBA and NBA all-time document rating within the three-point contest final season, recording 37 factors out of a potential 40.

Based on the official launch, Curry shot NBA balls from the NBA three-point line, whereas Ionescu used the WNBA equivalents – the road is a little bit nearer and the ball is barely smaller.

However, assured of her skills earlier than the match, Ionescu mentioned she needed to degree the taking part in subject. “I’ll shoot from the NBA line… LETS GET IT,” she wrote on X, previously generally known as Twitter.

As a part of the competition, each Curry and Ionescu’s respective charities will obtain a donation from the NBA and WNBA. The pair will even have an opportunity to lift cash for the NBA Basis, which goals to additional financial empowerment within the Black group, with every common shot value $1,000, each cash ball $2,000 and a particular 29-foot-9-inch three-pointer referred to as the “STARRY Vary Ball” value $3,000.

“I feel that is like the good factor ever,” Curry advised TNT in late January.

“I really like the arrogance, I really like the competitors. It’s a brand new format on that stage.”

A weekend of motion

The standard three-point Contest noticed Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Cities and Trae Younger vie for the crown.

In the long run, Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard, efficiently defended his three-point contest title, changing into the primary participant to win back-to-back crowns since Jason Kapono did so in 2007 and 2008.

All-Star Weekend will culminate within the All-Star Sport on Sunday from the Indiana Pacers’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which sees the best-of-the-best compete towards each other.

The sport has reverted to the standard Japanese Convention vs. Western Convention format for this 12 months, with lots of the league’s greatest stars lining up in Indianapolis.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James captain the East and West respectively, whereas Joel Embiid is the most important identify to overlook out having undergone surgical procedure for a knee harm earlier this month.

Saturday’s motion began with the NBA’s showcase of Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities (HBCU) as Virginia Union performed Winston-Salem State.

Gamers’ all-around skillsets had been on show on Saturday night with the Abilities Problem, earlier than the three-point contest showcased among the finest expertise from deep. The Slam Dunk competitors will then spherical out the night.

And on Sunday, the G League – the NBA’s minor league affiliate – will host its personal sequence of occasions starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on the G League Park on the Indian Conference Heart earlier than the crowning jewel of the weekend, the All-Star Sport, takes place at 8 p.m. ET.

TNT Sports activities (previously generally known as Turner Sports activities and briefly as Warner Bros. Discovery Sports activities) is the division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which owns CNN.

Editor’s observe: CNN’s Ben Church contributed to this report.

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