Fever's Caitlin Clark declines WNBA 3-Point Contest invitation

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Latest report will disappoint fans who wanted to see Fever's Caitlin Clark in WNBA 3-Point Contest

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jul 21, 2026 8:00 PM ET

For three years, fans have been wanting Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark to compete in the WNBA 3-Point Contest. They'll have to keep waiting.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Alexa Philippou shared that Clark received an invitation to participate in Friday's contest at Wintrust Arena in Chicago (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET). She declined the offer.

Why did Caitlin Clark decline offer to compete in 3-point contest, and who are the participants?

The reason for Clark's decision remains unspecified. She skipped the contest during her rookie season in 2024 to rest. The guard was set to compete in 2025 but bowed out due to a nagging right groin injury.

Injuries and the need for a break could once again be a factor. Clark has battled a lingering back issue throughout the season. She certainly doesn't want to aggravate it in the three-point contest.

FYI: Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride were invited to participate in the 3-point contest but declined, a source told ESPN https://t.co/HskuFy1IyC
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) July 21, 2026

For those who are curious about who will be in the contest, we've attached a list below.

Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd
Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard
Seattle Storm guard Natisha Hiedeman
Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun
Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton

Mabrey would be the smart pick to win the contest. Entering Tuesday night, she led the league in three-pointers made (3.3 per game through 25 contests) and was 14th in three-point percentage (39.2 percent).

Clark, meanwhile, has been inconsistent from the three-point line this season. Entering Tuesday night, she ranked seventh in the league in three-pointers made (2.5 per game through 22 contests) but was tied for 37th in three-point percentage (33.3 percent).

But make no mistake, Clark would be a favorite if she were in the contest. Her long-range jumper has become a signature throughout her basketball career. See no further than the stepback three she drilled in a 45-point performance during a 110-107 win over the Storm this past Friday.

With this bucket, Caitlin Clark marks the FIRST 40/10 Game in WNBA History!

Caitlin Clark becomes the first player in WNBA History to record 40+ points and 10+ assists in a game https://t.co/oTZhIZuLx5
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 18, 2026

Fans, however, won't get to see that this upcoming Friday. They'll have to hope the other stars can compensate for Clark's absence.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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