Caitlin Clark is slammed for refusing to participate in WNBA All-Star 3-point contest by ESPN analyst: 'There's really no excuse'

While astir fans are precocious connected Caitlin Clark's fame and prowess, she is now being criticized for not participating successful nan WNBA's three-point contest. 

With nan WNBA All-Star Weekend group to statesman successful Phoenix, nan Indiana Fever rookie - known for her scope - amazingly will not participate successful nan shootout connected Friday night. 

On Thursday's Around nan Horn, big Tony Reali asked nan sheet really nan WNBA should consciousness astir Clark's refusal to participate - prompting a disappointment consequence from David Dennis Jr. 

'I don't for illustration it erstwhile nan stars do not do these competitions,' Dennis said earlier citing MLB's Home Run Derby and nan NBA's Slam Dunk Contest. 

'I didn't for illustration not seeing Aaron Judge and Ohtani; I don't for illustration seeing nan Lebrons and nan Zions [not] successful nan dunk contest,' he said. 

'But particularly correct now. For Caitlin Clark, this is simply a missed opportunity — arsenic overmuch for Caitlin Clark arsenic it is for each those group who spent each that clip talking about, 'How could Team USA not person her connected nan team?' Because 'How do you turn nan crippled without Caitlin Clark?' This is different opportunity. What are they going to opportunity now? Because Caitlin Clark has opted retired of an opportunity that will turn nan game.' 

Dennis went connected to reference Sabrina Ionescu's record-setting capacity astatine past year's three-point contest. The triumph yet led to her going caput to caput pinch Steph Curry successful a typical title astatine nan NBA All Star Weekend successful February. 

'We saw erstwhile [Sabrina] Ionescu collapsed nan grounds for nan three-point competition,' Dennis said. 'She grew nan crippled and it became a mainstream moment. So Caitlin Clark is opting retired of that. Don't show maine she's tired. Because you wanted her connected Team USA. 

'Don't show maine she doesn't want attention. Because if she was connected Team USA, she'd beryllium getting a batch of attention. There's really nary excuse for her not to spell retired location and sprout a fewer threes for nan betterment of nan crippled that everybody says is truthful hopeless for her to make grow.'

Like Dennis, Sarah Spain besides expressed her disappointment successful Clark's absence from nan lineup for nan event. She past noted really Ionescu is besides skipping this year's contest. 

'No Caitlin Clark aliases Sabrina Ionescu successful nan 3-point title Friday nighttime successful Phoenix,' Spain wrote connected X. 'I'm judge they person their reasons, but that's MASSIVE disappointment. Such a missed opportunity.' 

Ionescu has a valid logic for not defending her crown arsenic she has been called up to compete for nan United States successful nan Olympics. However, Clark, whose removal from nan squad angered nan fanbase, whitethorn person immoderate explanation to do. 

To headdress disconnected this weekend's festivities, Clark and nan WNBA All-Stars will return connected Ionescu and Team USA. 

Clark led each players successful All-Star votes contempt her rookie position while averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per crippled shooting 40.5 per cent from nan section and 32.7 per cent from three.