SAN FRANCISCO – There can be no Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu rematch at All-Star weekend.
The NBA introduced Thursday that the 3-point capturing occasion bringing collectively two of the largest stars within the NBA and WNBA — which was one of many highlights of final yr’s All-Star weekend in Indianapolis — will not be going to be a part of the lineup in San Francisco.
Talks went on for weeks to attempt to make it occur, even stretching into All-Star week itself. It appeared greater than logical {that a} rematch would happen; All-Star weekend is on Curry’s house ground this weekend and Ionescu — who performs for the WNBA champion New York Liberty — is a Bay Space native who grew up watching Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
“We weren’t capable of land on a plan we thought would increase the bar off of final yr’s particular second,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass stated. “All of us agreed to not proceed and can as an alternative preserve the concentrate on All-Star Sunday’s new format.”
Curry was on document saying he needed the rematch to happen, and there have been talks of creating it a 2-on-2 format this yr — doubtlessly involving Klay Thompson, Curry’s former Warriors teammate, and reigning WNBA rookie of the yr Caitlin Clark.
The two-on-2 talks appeared to disintegrate in current weeks, although the NBA had hope of bringing some type of Curry vs. Ionescu again — doubtlessly even together with it in Sunday evening’s lineup between video games of the brand new All-Star Sport mini-tournament and never having or not it’s a part of All-Star Saturday prefer it was a yr in the past.
“We’ve been speaking about discovering alternative ways to alter this up subsequent yr,” Ionescu stated after final yr’s occasion — when she and Curry each made clear, on the time, that they needed to deliver the competitors again this yr. “I believe he has a associate in thoughts that’s going to hitch him. So, I’m open to any associate that would assist me win and take that belt that he has up entrance and middle away from him.”
Curry beat Ionescu 29-26 within the Steph vs. Sabrina competitors final season, the primary such him-vs.-her occasion of its form on the league’s weekend showcase. The competitors generated cash for his or her foundations.
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