Caitlin Clark is slammed for refusing to participate in WNBA All-Star 3-point contest by ESPN analyst: ‘There’s really no excuse’

While most fans praise Caitlin Clark’s popularity and talent, she is now being criticized for not participating in the WNBA’s three-point contest.

With WNBA All-Star Weekend kicking off in Phoenix, the Indiana Fever rookie known for her range will surprisingly not participate in Friday night’s shootout.

During Thursday’s Around the Horn, host Tony Reali asked the panel what the WNBA thought about Clark’s refusal to participate, prompting a frustrated response from David Dennis Jr.

“I don’t like it when the stars don’t participate in these competitions,” Dennis said, before mentioning the MLB’s Home Run Derby and the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest.

‘I didn’t like not seeing Aaron Judge and Ohtani; I don’t like not seeing the Lebrons and the Zions [not] “in the dunk contest,” he said.

“But especially now. For Caitlin Clark, this is a missed opportunity — as much for Caitlin Clark as it is for all those people who have spent this whole time talking about, ‘How did Team USA not have her?’ Because, ‘How do you grow the game without Caitlin Clark?’ This is a new opportunity. What are they going to say? Because Caitlin Clark blew an opportunity that would grow the game.”

Dennis then referenced Sabrina Ionescu’s record-breaking performance in last year’s three-point contest, a win that ultimately led to her taking on Steph Curry in a special competition at NBA All-Star Weekend in February.

‘We saw then [Sabrina] “Ionescu broke the record for the three-point competition,” Dennis said. “She grew the game and it became a mainstream moment. So Caitlin Clark chooses not to participate in that. Don’t tell me she’s tired. Because you wanted her on Team USA.

Clark led all players in voting for the WNBA All-Star team, but will not participate in the shootout

Last year’s winner Sabrina Ionescu will also skip Friday night’s three-point contest

Ionescu has been selected to play for Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris

“Don’t tell me she doesn’t want attention. Because if she was on Team USA, she would be getting a lot of attention. There’s really no excuse for her not to go out there and shoot some three-pointers to improve the game that everyone says she’s so desperate to grow.”

Like Dennis, Sarah Spain expressed her disappointment at Clark’s absence from the event’s lineup, before noting that Ionescu will also skip the competition this year.

“No Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu in the 3-point competition Friday night in Phoenix,” wrote Spanje on X. “I’m sure they have their reasons, but this is a HUGE disappointment. What a missed opportunity.”

Clark is averaging 17.1 points while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-pointers.

Ionescu has a valid reason for not defending her title, as she has been called up to represent the United States in the Olympics. Clark, whose exclusion from the team angered fans, may need some clarification, however.

To close out this weekend’s festivities, Clark and the WNBA All-Stars will take on Ionescu and Team USA.

Despite her rookie status, Clark was the best player in the All-Star voting. She averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game and had a shooting percentage of 40.5 percent and 32.7 percent from three.