When Caitlin Clark’s groin injury knocked her out of Friday’s 3-Point Contest announcement, disappointment rippled through the WNBA community. It also brought word that her Indiana Fever teammate Lexie Hull would step in, but questions lingered: Could the event maintain its electricity without one of basketball’s brightest stars?
The answer came in the form of Sabrina Ionescu, who delivered a masterclass performance that reminded everyone exactly why she owns this stage.
How Did Nike Basketball Celebrate Sabrina Ionescu’s Dominant Victory?
The New York Liberty guard torched the competition Friday night, emphatically claiming her 3-Point Contest crown. Nike Basketball wasted no time recognizing the performance that had everyone talking.
The sportswear giant turned to its official X account to honor Ionescu’s championship with a striking visual and powerful message. The brand posted a compelling photo of the Liberty star alongside the caption, “If you have nothing to prove, prove it.”
The post doubled down with an additional message in the caption: “Sabrina Ionescu is here to remind you who she is: the undisputed WNBA 3-Point Contest champ.”
Sabrina Ionescu is here to remind you who she is: the undisputed WNBA 3-Point Contest champ. pic.twitter.com/Pq7vCzOsWf
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) July 19, 2025
What Made Ionescu’s Championship Run So Dominant?
This year’s field brought serious competition. The lineup featured Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum, Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron, Indiana Fever’s Hull, Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray, and Ionescu representing the Liberty.
The format remained unchanged: Each shooter gets 70 seconds to attempt up to 27 shots, with one ball from each of five racks positioned around the arc. Regular makes count for one point, while each rack’s final “money ball” is worth two points. Only the top two first-round scorers advance to the championship round.
Ionescu and Gray tied at 25 points in the opening round, setting up a finals showdown. That’s where Ionescu separated herself from the field. She erupted for 30 points in the final round. In comparison, Gray managed 22 points, a solid effort that simply couldn’t match Ionescu’s peak performance.
Sabrina Ionescu puts up a MONSTER 30 PTS to reclaim her STARRY 3-Point Contest title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qgRwN2OPTQ
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 19, 2025
The victory brought Ionescu $2,575 from the WNBA under the collective bargaining agreement terms. However, the real payday comes from Aflac and the WNBA Players Association, who will add another $60,000 to her earnings.
Nike’s relationship with Ionescu runs deep, stretching back to her days dominating college basketball at the University of Oregon. After the New York Liberty selected her as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Ionescu signed a major multi-year endorsement deal with Nike, reportedly worth around $24 million.
Her current season numbers reflect why Nike made that investment. Ionescu is averaging 18.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game while helping the Liberty compile a 15-6 record atop the Eastern Conference standings.
The weekend isn’t over for Ionescu yet. Tonight, she’ll take the court for Team Clark in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, joined by a roster that includes Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, Satou Sabally, Kelsey Mitchell, Gabby Williams, Kiki Iriafen, Jackie Young, Kayla Thornton, Citron, and Hull.
