Caitlin Clark has turned down an invitation to compete in the WNBA's 3-Point Contest, a decision seen as a setback for the league's All-Star Weekend showcase and its broadcast partner ESPN. Clark, whose presence has driven record viewership figures for the league and her team, the Indiana Fever, is widely regarded as the WNBA's biggest commercial draw, so her absence from a marquee All-Star event is expected to reduce audience interest.

The league announced its 3-Point Contest field on Tuesday, and Clark's name was notably missing from it. According to ESPN, she was invited to take part but declined, and she was not the only prominent player to do so — Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride also turned down invitations to the contest.