“My focus is on this game tonight”: Caitlin Clark pumps brakes on 3-Point contest whispers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 17: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever warms up before tip-off against the Dallas Wings at the College Park Center on July 17, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has been the most-talked-about player in the WNBA this season. Of late, discussions around her potential appearance in the 2024 WNBA 3-point contest are heating up.

Clark offered her thoughts on the 3-point contest going into the All-Star break in an interview prior to the Indiana Fever-Dallas Wings matchup.

“My focus is on this game tonight, then we’ll turn to All-Star after that, but, we need to beat Dallas,” Clark said when asked about her potential 3-point contest appearance.

Clark led the fan-voting portion of the WNBA All-Star selection process, receiving 700,735 votes, followed by teammate Aliyah Boston, who received 618,680.

Last year, the 3-point contest field was announced just the day before the event, and this may repeat this year as well.

Sabrina Ionescu won the 2023 WNBA All-Star 3-point contest with a record-breaking performance of 37 points in the final round, ending the NBA and WNBA record for points in a round (31), set by Steph Curry (2021) and Tyrese Haliburton (2023).

Ionescu challenged Curry at the NBA All-Star Weekend in the first NBA vs. WNBA 3-point contest. However, the Warriors star came out on top.

Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA record vs. Wings

The Indiana Fever rookie’s performance against the Wings included a record-breaking 19 assists to go with 24 points and six rebounds. Clark broke Courtney Vandersloot’s record of 18 for Chicago against Indiana on August 31, 2020.

The rookie sensation also became the first rookie in WNBA history to notch a triple-double when she posted 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a winning effort over the New York Liberty on July 6.

Caitlin Clark is tied for second in the WNBA in three-pointers attempted per game and fifth in three-pointers made per game, shooting 33.2% from behind the arc.

During her time in college, Clark left one of the greatest scoring legacies in NCAA history due to her elite shooting ability from deep.

Caitlin Clark has averaged 16.8 points, 7.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds, shooting nearly 40% from the field in her first 25 games as a professional.

The 2024 WNBA 3-Point Contest is set to take place on Friday, July 19, following the Skills Challenge, which kicks off at 6 p.m. ET. The All-Star Game will tip-off on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.