# Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu bashes ‘lies’ about WNBA 3-point invite

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-22 20:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Sabrina Ionescu denies reports that she rejected a WNBA 3-point contest invite, stating she was never officially invited to defend her title.

## Intelligence Brief
Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty has publicly pushed back against reports suggesting she turned down an invitation to participate in the WNBA 3-point contest. According to the New York Post, Ionescu characterized the narratives surrounding the invite as lies. The player explicitly stated that she could not decline an offer that she never officially received, a point emphasized in coverage from Yahoo Sports and Fox News. This dispute centers on her absence from the competition during the 2026 All-Star weekend, meaning the Liberty star will not be defending her previous title in the event. Multiple media outlets are tracking the fallout of these conflicting reports.


The New York Times reports that both Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride have rejected the narrative regarding the 3-point contest invitations. Bleacher Report focused on the fact that Ionescu will not be defending her title due to these circumstances. Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports provided specific quotes from Ionescu regarding the lack of an official invitation, while the New York Post highlighted her strong language in labeling the reports as lies. The coverage indicates a significant gap between the reported events and the players' actual experiences. Contextualizing the event, the WNBA 3-point contest is a high-profile All-Star weekend attraction.


USA Today and CBS Sports are focusing on the broader implications of player participation, specifically questioning whether Caitlin Clark will be in the contest. CBS Sports suggests that if high-profile stars like Caitlin Clark and others decline invitations, it could potentially hurt the future of the event. Additionally, Yahoo Sports mentioned Sophie Cunningham's response to not making the contest, suggesting a wider conversation regarding who is selected to compete and how those selections are communicated to the athletes. Looking forward, the sports world is monitoring whether the WNBA will provide further clarification on the invitation process for the 2026 All-Star weekend. Observers will be watching to see if the league addresses the contradictions raised by Ionescu and McBride or if the roster for the competition remains unchanged despite the public denials from the players involved.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| The New York Times | Sabrina Ionescu, Kayla McBride reject the WNBA’s 3-point contest invite narrative | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxPVmNfam0zMndsaVl1U0dRdkVuOXh2OVlRSkJVLUFVUWZBR2lmZUg3WF9NdDNwck5fUWFOalM5NmNwb1ZCZUhabkdjNkViRUN5bU1aQjVYSG50MWs4M3FZLUtUOGlvWnAzckR6b0F6MFVCdlpHdUxnREZNNnk0RVhHcXBRYzhwcjVETl8xd0RidXNJallxd0FTMnRyM1A0RDhkSXVFOEZ6M0lxSncyYUdZTk9kanNJTDZ1?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | “Deflating and Ultimately Disappointing”: Skip Bayless Spoeaks Out on Caitlin Clark’s 3-Point Contest | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxNY281ZWo1b0NqaWhJME41d3dnQ3RYcncyV25acEtKc2VIYkJCemZnV1ZMdDBNdENqSUNvYkhpX3lmYkMwSnNPdzRXQk5rSGd0ZHhpTTRlWVJqSFVHbExycDFIdk9CMWZJdVh1bWk5RUpTR25yRXpNNmJKV1dqRV9IZkFzVTRMcC1lQ0VZSzVHZnd1aHV4TG5mVnhxT2k?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Sabrina Ionescu denies report that she turned down WNBA 3-point contest: 'I can't decline an offer I never got officially invited to' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwJBVV95cUxQWXlDQVAtTWlpVjJoM3B1Wl8ydzB4YU1FTFZFWVNjUnR0eWN2dTRNZ2VEejFwV0FTcVJ2eENMV0tfRzdtOVAzQ3h2cHFzSERWWXFnd25FNlNaYWRxVWQxRlhZODR0STNldkxrcGJPOFVUVndCMXZkbWZuUm1aVlZ5Sm9JX2Z5XzdTVHdoUEhfVWhXVDFlUmVuOHRMNmpFd193bnZ6Nm56ODQ0Q01aS1l5TVI4bHJNak4zNnI2S0hPM2FPZy02WjVHLVlZeWgySmxtLTVNRlAxaWdjMUo2aV9EM1NZYTIwbWcxVXZzZFhndExBUnJvbmRRYm4xNW43VURtTmdvLVdXUEhmTHdGR3RZ?oc=5) |
| USA Today | Is Caitlin Clark in the WNBA 3-point contest at 2026 All-Star weekend? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxQSERfOWRYY0oxS2tUSmZ6bWJfaDBLVFBPSVA2QzRNWVVQbHRvcGhVOE5QY0l5VUlqU1N3Nm1CYjFQRExQTWt5Uks4WkZuQnFZRk1zalFORkhidWJqUUFfbWRabmxrMmpfNlczWV94djh0N1liRGFkVy05QjIyb0dmQ1haUUdSSDNEWjI2TDFqcUxqRG1BekRCLXFYWXRxbTM2Z3ZJNXAwbmtlU21waGs1enRsNmlYU2JwZVFtOFFIVmZ0V1NiOEJpbA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Sophie Cunningham had best response to not making WNBA 3-point contest | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxNeF9jY3ByYjVIVGZGbFdiX2VSMlhGdlB1X2hFWFlySTVYWkpZZnltQmlKMWJPR2NnLW1Lc1Y5dDgtSlJvb2h4QS0wZ0VtaVY1WTgxZWpkREtrZXhDLW1GeUhyQm9MWFFYMkd6M0lQLWU5VklMcS11NEwyM01Gd1I5SlRyaU1uTG5YTVRqSQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Sabrina Ionescu denies report that she turned down chance to compete in WNBA 3-point contest: 'I can't decline an offer I never got officially invited to' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwJBVV95cUxOVkg1SUhBRWJFeVVDUkVVd0NQVTJHeXNVRlg1S0FQQ0xCTVl3ZVIxeE0yU1o2cnY0SF9WbFRPTXB1S0JuVk4tUnF1cXJjdHRNOGNHajN0NjlZOFZISG4tUS1RaWFLUlU2RTM3RnFaVTBobTFWa0doaFM5UVRSRlRaVFNZNGxRUWFvLTZaWjhNdjBiYUVhbXdNWnExbVVFaTUwMXN4SU1vNUdUYzV5QVd6LXBJSy1FTjNqcEtucWxRTFd1YWFaV25vR3ZYTFhYcS1JaUljeWRsNjB1Y0QyajhidTZqVmh6YUdXZWJnT2lCdkNRS3NQX2RyUmVQZ3JzMG9WNjhzR1hYQVp2a19idFBwY2kydWJyWkhjaDhkZEJPYzlqdUJ6Q0oxUG1PTQ?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Why Caitlin Clark, others declining WNBA 3-point contest invitations could hurt event's future | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxPcUNSNk85WEIzeUtoaTdKai1OdWdDREllTURDdnVnRDB2aVhhcHFQcWFJZFNaejBUa0dfTHNnNkRxVTB3TG83NmFOZ1VQX1lFT2RVQnAxVUZ4em1abjhyV0xzRDJDck5tRDVXbUJPcmNhcnpPb0psUUI1Q01fQmtzdUt3UnNjNklxcFNWaFY1bXU?oc=5) |
| Fox News | Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu addresses absence from WNBA 3-point contest: 'Never officially got invited' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxPVFhSVUxJMGVucWNvWnh4bHc4M3BHbjBrSXd0TVd6Q1owSnZibGVxZWpReGcyckVVR2E1dUdfSjQ1WFpRSWV0VUFQTlc4eWpxMWFTbzhxRlB1N2diX1ZPTEotRXE2MGtOMUtHZU04OE5SdUxwc1RxWUNGQzk2V0paUWhMcXF6c1pCbkRBbmRQVlJXMnNBem1RLWYwdC11Qk40ejZXd2RFYzh1ZzhyOWRJQlJJOUp3OE9lVGRVMUd4cjHSAcYBQVVfeXFMTjJ6bktBMHpSaXVHTFVQRFFCd0NZMHFsRGw1NF9Qd2hndFpoTkpVX2hhUGxoa0RkLWRSSnc1Y0xaNjQwZXZ5clRMTVpLcmxid2JvYnBVR0NHSm5PUzViOWxKa1dkY0ItN1ZzTVphdjZCcmloNkFYUmdMUEhndmFqdkdkV1l4d1RXb29ROUphMHlxQzl) |
| Bleacher Report | Sabrina Ionescu Denies Rumors on WNBA 3-Point Contest Invite as Liberty Star Won't Defend Title | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizgFBVV95cUxOVE1tZkpTQWJOVEhkTXFxMlJsYTUxSUxHZzZBeURYalhoWjVpdFJiclZSamY0TzUtYktzTzVENk1felJpdGxHYVdMSjdmSWdlcUM3Si1tenhnUTFOTGI3UEdmT1ZrVFpySWJ1QXZ4cFJVaW1mcVpBamJRbzliWlk0UENnMGJJSzh2dFZCdWRCYUtVX2swMzgyOXcyd19LVTZZLWVKVU5FaWpPVFA4SjBUcHRHS25DbWdpREI3enR2ZVdCOVpCTGM4WGZQTTYzZw?oc=5) |
| New York Post | Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu bashes ‘lies’ about WNBA 3-point invite | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxQLWJTQnhGckpvdFhNQ3pUTTFDdlctUU9TU3RYc0RBMVpwRXdLSUlWdWNGMWpMRFZPaTBuaFFGMXBvRzBOMDM1YTFYTTYzUnRaajB3dk1MVUw5Z1h4QTZOXzhmX3lYMm9zMUo0QWhtWU1HVURKeXpTTGdaSXlmeTJ2Z2FkNFNXR25KTXlPNTdoRm05a0R1WEJCNy16SlRTQkxH?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-22/liberty-s-sabrina-ionescu-bashes-lies-about-wnba-3-point-invite*