Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride has criticised the WNBA’s handling of invitations to its 3-point contest, saying she received what she described as a “half-a–” invitation through her agent shortly before the event. Her comments add to concerns raised by New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu and suggest the league may have communicated poorly with prominent players about the competition.

McBride said she had not simply declined a clear, formal invitation, as some observers appeared to assume. The dispute centres on whether players were properly invited and given sufficient notice, rather than on the contest itself, and has prompted criticism of the WNBA’s organisation and communication.