As the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend approaches, Kayla McBride has sparked conversation by addressing the nature of her invitation to the league’s 3-Point Contest. The Minnesota Lynx guard openly criticized the WNBA’s handling of the invite, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes communication that led to her decision to decline participation.
McBride’s remarks came in response to a now-deleted Bleacher Report W Sports post that suggested she, along with Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark, had all turned down official invitations to compete in the 3-Point Contest. However, McBride clarified that her invitation was far from formal.
Invitation Described as “Half A**”
The guard explained that she was contacted only 48 hours before the event via a text message sent through her agent, which she described as a “half a** invite.” This last-minute and informal approach, McBride implied, hardly constituted an official offer worthy of consideration.
Her stance mirrored that of New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, who the day before denied receiving any formal invitation and dismissed the circulated reports as falsehoods. Their combined responses have raised questions about the WNBA’s organizational procedures surrounding All-Star Weekend events and participant communications.
Amid these off-court discussions, McBride remains a formidable presence on the court. The five-time All-Star has been in exceptional form heading into the break, averaging 26.8 points per game over her last eight outings on an impressive 54.5% shooting, including a 50% success rate from beyond the arc. Despite opting out, she expressed her support for the six athletes competing in the 3-Point Contest on Friday in Chicago.