Sabrina Ionescu, taking a step back to shoot from the NBA 3-point arc, could have gone shot-for-shot with nearly anyone.
The Liberty star sunk her first seven shots and finished her round with 26 points, which would have tied for the best round in the NBA’s 3-point competition.
Nearly anyone, though, because Stephen Curry is in a stratosphere of his own.
Stephen Curry holds up the winner’s “Stephen vs. Sabrina” belt after his 29-26 win over Sabrina Ionescu in their 3-point shooting showdown.Getty Images
The Warriors superstar and best shooter ever buried his final four triples to beat Ionescu by three points in the first NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge on Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Curry’s prize was a WWE-like championship “Stephen vs. Serena” belt, with images of goats — as in, GOATs — on either side.
Both players received $25,000 each for their respective charities.
“I think a night like tonight shows a lot of young boys and young girls that if you can shoot, you can shoot,” Ionescu said on the TNT broadcast. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or boy, I think it just matters the heart that you have and wanting to be the best that you can be.”
Ionescu, the WNBA’s single-season 3-point holder and a two-time All-Star, was as good as anyone not named Curry while shooting from a deeper distance than she is accustomed.
The NBA’s 3-point arc is 23 feet, 9 inches away from the basket at the top of the key; the WNBA’s line is 22 feet, 1.75 inches.
Yet, Ionescu — saying she wanted to “continue to push boundaries and equal the playing field” — made sure she was shooting from the same distance as Curry. Ionescu shot with WNBA balls and Curry shot with NBA balls.
“Excited to change the narrative alongside the greatest to ever do it,” Ionescu said.
Ionescu won the WNBA’s 3-point shootout at its All-Star weekend last year with a record 37 points, smashing Curry’s NBA-shootout mark of 31 points.
From there, a challenge was thrown down and the plan was concocted for them to meet at All-Star weekend.
“Hopefully, this isn’t the last time we do this,” Ionescu said.
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