SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu faced off during the 2024 All-Star Weekend in a 3-point contest for the ages. Curry caught fire and scored 29 points, edging Ionescu’s 26. Ionescu shot WNBA basketballs from the NBA three-point line, adding another layer of difficulty to the showdown.

Is Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 2.0 In The Works?
How “Steph vs. Sabrina” Started
Aug 31, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (center) stands on the court before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Ionescu sparked the idea when she challenged Curry after dropping 37 out of a possible 40 points in the final round of the 3-Point Contest at the 2023 WNBA All-Star festivities, setting a single-round record across both leagues. Curry later revived the challenge while mic’d up during Golden State’s Jan. 25 matchup against Sacramento on TNT. Ionescu quickly responded on social media and officially accepted.

The matchup delivered. According to Front Office Sports, viewership for 2024 NBA All-Star Saturday jumped 54 percent compared to the previous year. The broadcast peaked at 5.4 million viewers during the Curry–Ionescu contest. By comparison, the average NBA game on TNT draws between 1.5 and 2 million viewers. Even marquee regular-season matchups such as Lakers–Celtics and Warriors–Lakers typically draw between 2 and 2.5 million viewers. The shootout more than doubled those numbers.

STEPHEN vs. SABRINA WAS A MOVIE.

Sabrina Ionescu opened on fire and dropped 26… before Stephen Curry came through in the clutch to win it with 29!

Enjoy. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Sz104f95FZ

— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024

Fans immediately called for a rematch. Commissioner Adam Silver announced during an NBA international game in Mexico City that the league had lined up another showdown for the 2025 All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. He even floated the idea of expanding the format with multiple rounds.

The rematch never materialized. The league explored an expanded contest featuring Caitlin Clark and Klay Thompson alongside Curry and Ionescu. Clark declined through a statement from her agency, explaining that she wanted her first 3-point contest appearance to take place at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis. Without her participation, the expanded concept collapsed.

League officials continued to push for alternatives. They discussed hosting the competition Sunday during a break in the revamped All-Star Game. They proposed modified formats. None of the ideas gained traction with both Curry and Ionescu, and the league ultimately shelved the event.

Renewed Hope for 2027

Fast forward to February 2026, and optimism has resurfaced. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard captured his third three-point contest in four years by defeating Devin Booker in the final round during this season’s All-Star Saturday. Still, the event missed Curry’s presence. He won the contest twice, in 2015 and 2021, and his absence left a noticeable void.

Curry eliminated that uncertainty by declaring for next year’s 3-point contest. “One hundred percent,” Curry said about his participation. “I already scheduled it. We’re gonna bring some people. Me, Dame, I’m gonna try to get Klay, Dev.”

With the soon-to-be 38-year-old headed to Phoenix for next year’s All-Star Weekend, calls for a “Stephen vs. Sabrina” rematch will only grow louder. The appetite remains. The league understands the ratings upside. If the timing aligns, fans could finally get the sequel they have been waiting for.

Credit:© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images