Steph vs. Sabrina: My Thoughts On The 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend 3-Point Challenge
- Fentse Malele
- Feb 20, 2024
- 2 min read
The first of many 3-point challenges between the NBA & WNBA happened over the weekend at the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend in Indiana. The NBA did a great job in not only choosing the best shooters from each league to represent the meaning of this challenge but also in marketing it as one of the most anticipated match-ups at an All-star game in years.
The contest was tight with Steph narrowly beating Sabrina 26-29. This contest was special to watch! As a fan of basketball for many years, I have always wished to see some type of NBA vs WNBA contest and this challenge was the best way to kick a concept like this off. This 3-point challenge was about nothing but pure skill, fundamentals and shooting mechanics, not to mention that Sabrina was at a slight disadvantage as they were shooting from the regulation NBA 3-point line, which is slightly further than what she's used to in the WNBA. Despite this she gave the greatest shooter of all time a run for his money and anybody who disagrees doesn't know a thing about basketball.
Sabrina summarized the take away of this 3-Point contest beautifully by stating that this match-up will show young boys and girls that "If you can shoot, you can shoot!", your gender, height, or physical ability does not determine your success in whatever field you want to be in.
Watching this contest I couldn't help but think back to when I was a young girl, just starting to take an interest in basketball and struggling to find a basketball team in my neighborhood and when I finally did, being told that I can't play because there was no girls team. This challenge has not only brought attention to the greatness that lies within the WNBA but it will undoubtably be the origin story of many great WNBA players that we will see over the course of the next 10-15 years.
Probs to the NBA, Steph and Sabrina for putting on a show for the fans. I can't wait to see how they will follow this contest up at the 2025 NBA All-Star weekend. No doubt after the success of this past weekend, the NBA front office has already started plotting and planning for 2025.
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