Stephen vs Sabrina: Ionescu popular underdog in historic Curry battle

Sabrina Ionescu has upped the ante in her historic three-point contest against Steph Curry, and the public has continued to back the record-setting WNBA star.

The “Stephen vs. Sabrina” contest will be televised on TNT and pit the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made against the New York Liberty star, who shot 44.8 percent from long distance in the WNBA last season.

Ionescu was originally going to shoot from the WNBA 3-point line of 20 feet, 6 inches, but has instead chosen to match Curry from the NBA distance of 23 feet, 9 inches when the two square off in the first 3-point competition between WNBA and NBA stars during All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.

“Personally, I shoot from (men’s) range, to begin with, I practice from that range,” Ionescu said. “Knowing that I had the opportunity to pick what line I wanted to shoot from, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to shoot from the NBA line and prove that we’re capable and we’re willing. It’s not something that took a lot of convincing and knowing I wanted to equal the playing field.”

Ionescu, 26, won the WNBA’s 3-point contest in 2023 with a record 37 points. Curry, 35, is a two-time winner of the NBA’s three-point contest, victorious in 2015 and 2021. The Golden State Warriors star is a career 42.7% shooter from beyond the arc.

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Ionescu is a +185 longshot at BetMGM, where she has received one-sided action with 74.3% of the bets and 89.7% of the money backing her to beat Curry (-250).

Curry is a slightly shorter favorite at -220 at DraftKings, where he has been backed by only 23 percent of the bets and 15 percent of the money. Ionescu has drawn 77% and 85%, respectively, at +160.

The rules

Each player will start with five racks of balls placed at the main shooting locations along the 3-point line. Four of the racks will include one “money” ball worth two points. The fifth rack will include all money balls, and will be placed at the location of the shooter’s choice.

There will also be two Starry Range balls from deep shot locations that will be worth three points.

Curry and Ionescu will each have 70 seconds to attempt their shots.

History in the making

Ionescu grew up in northern California and the two have engaged in pickup-style games over the past few years. Ionescu won a game of H.O.R.S.E. between the two last year and after her record-setting performance at the WNBA’s three-point contest, Curry challenged her to a shootout on social media.

“We’ve competed a couple times, obviously never on this stage,” Ionescu said. “But I feel like we’ve always been competing and being able to keep up with one another from afar.” – Rappler.com