Azzi Fudd joins WNBA All-Star 3-point contest lineup
Dallas Wings rookie and No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd will make her pro debut in the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest on Friday during All-Star Weekend in Chicago, joining five of the league's top shooters in a field that excludes several big names.
Key Takeaways
- Azzi Fudd headlines a six-player WNBA 3-point contest field with Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey, Bridget Carleton, Natisha Hiedeman and Janelle Salaün.
- The contest is set for Friday, July 24, 2026, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT).
- Fudd is the fourth rookie in WNBA history to enter the shootout; no rookie has ever won it.
- Defending champion Sabrina Ionescu says she never received an official invite, disputing reports she declined.
- A separate State Farm Celebrity 3-Point Contest follows Saturday at WNBA Live in Chicago.
Who is shooting in the WNBA All-Star 3-point contest?
According to ESPN, Dallas' Azzi Fudd will be joined by Atlanta's Rhyne Howard, Toronto's Marina Mabrey, Portland's Bridget Carleton, Seattle's Natisha Hiedeman and Golden State's Janelle Salaün.
Howard and Mabrey are the only players in the group with prior All-Star 3-point contest experience. Fudd, Carleton, Hiedeman and Salaün are making their debuts.
Mabrey leads the WNBA with 82 made threes this season, followed by Howard (79). Salaün (67), Carleton (65), Hiedeman (57) and Fudd (50) all rank among the league's top 10 from deep.
Why does Azzi Fudd's spot matter?
Fudd, the 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick out of UConn, becomes just the fourth rookie in WNBA history to compete in the 3-point shootout. She joins a short list that includes Kelsey Mitchell (2018), Howard (2022) and Sonia Citron (2025).
No rookie has won the contest. Howard remains the only first-year player to reach the final round. For more star-driven sports buzz, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Mabrey, a first-time All-Star, also tied the WNBA single-game scoring record earlier this season with 53 points, including nine threes.
Why are Sabrina Ionescu and other stars missing?
ESPN reported that sources said reigning champion Sabrina Ionescu, plus Caitlin Clark and Kayla McBride, were invited but declined. Ionescu pushed back hard on that narrative.
"I can't decline an offer I never got officially invited to," the New York Liberty guard told reporters, per Fox News. She called the opt-out claims false and said she was excited for the new field and a new winner.
McBride similarly said she never received a formal invitation. Ionescu has won the contest twice, including a record 37-point showing in 2023.
When is the celebrity 3-point contest?
State Farm also announced a star-studded Celebrity 3-Point Contest on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 1 p.m. CT during WNBA Live at Chicago's McCormick Place. The celebrity field includes Keke Palmer, Issa Rae, Maya Higa, Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles and sports journalist Allie Clifton, with Jess Sims hosting.
The official player contest airs Friday night as a prelude to Saturday's AT&T WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago.