It’s an Olympic year, so the WNBA season will be on hiatus for a few weeks to prepare for the games.
However, that’s not before the W heads to Phoenix for this year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend festivities, including the always entertaining WNBA 3-point contest.
Last year was a new apex for the event, as Sabrina Ionescu blew away the competition with a 37-point final round to capture the all-time record.
With the shocking news that Ionescu will not be participating this year — and perhaps the equally shocking revelation that neither would rookie shooting sensation Caitlin Clark — the contest seems wide open for the field of competitors announced on Wednesday night.
With Sabrina Ionescu opting not to defend her title, Minnesota Lynx sharpshooter Kayla McBride has emerged as the leading favorite at +115.
McBride is one of the few returning competitors, having previously participated in the 3-point contest back in 2018.
She scored a solid 22 points in the first round and 18 in the second round to tie with Quigley but ultimately lost in the final tiebreak with 21 points, missing her final rack.
Kayla McBride #WNBAAllStar #WNBA #LosLynx pic.twitter.com/c91oMbX9FF
— ʀᴏᴏᴋɪᴇ
(@CoachRookie) July 19, 2024
Notably, this was before the addition of the “Starry Range” racks, which now add an extra eight potential points.
McBride has been arguably the best shooter in the WNBA this season, excelling in both volume and efficiency. She ranks sixth in the league for three-point attempts, averaging 7.1 per game, and connects at an impressive 42.7% rate.
McBride’s only concern is her shooting form, as she tends to jump forward significantly on her release. This could potentially cost her time and energy in later rounds.
Marina Mabrey has had quite a whirlwind week. She was initially acquired by the Chicago Sky in 2023, only to be traded again on Wednesday morning to the Connecticut Sun.
Known for her aesthetically pleasing shooting form in the WNBA, Mabrey’s efficiency from long range has dipped this season.
Marina Mabrey has established herself as a scorer/shooter but this year her game has evolved. She’s a tough on ball defender & makes high IQ plays. I’ve watched her since college & could not be more impressed with her development. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/FbbZgcvpxN
— Shimmy Miller (@shimmy33) July 15, 2024
Despite a drop from a strong 39% mark last year to just 35% this season, Mabrey remains one of the higher-volume players and could still be considered a reasonable option at +310.
Jonquel Jones enters Friday with the longest odds, which is somewhat puzzling.
The New York Liberty Center boasts a 39.6% shooting percentage from downtown this season and is also a return participant to the 3-point contest.
In 2021, she put on a strong opening-round performance, totaling 27 points, and was narrowly edged out by Allie Quigley, who scored 28.
Jonquel Jones just dropped 2⃣7⃣ in Round 1 of the WNBA 3-PT contest
Reminder: She’s 6’6”
@WNBApic.twitter.com/63HgEyo4KD
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 15, 2021
Although Jonquel slowed down in her second round, it’s important to note that the contest was held at halftime of the All-Star game, during which she was a featured player.
Despite this, Jones still managed a very respectable 24 points, and Quigley took two exceptional rounds to deny her victory.
McBride hasn’t won the 3-point contest yet, but she’s the favorite this time. Having competed in 2018 and 2019, she stands out as the best catch-and-shoot threat in this field.
In these contests, it’s advantageous to back someone who excels at catch-and-shoot or is a “movement shooter” who can peel off screens and position themselves for shots rather than a player who primarily creates off-the-dribble.
For instance, Allie Quigley won this contest four times, and Ionescu, an elite shooter adept at both, won it last year.
McBride is the favorite, and I feel confident betting on her to win this contest.
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