Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu: Who is the better three-point shooter?

Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu: Who is the better three-point shooter?

Lenah Ann
February 17, 2024 at 9:03 AM

The Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu debate has been going on for a while now, and fans have been more than outraged to find out who is the most fierce 3-point shooter between them. Following their highly prolific status, the two basketball players will finally be able to resolve their long-standing argument in the first-ever NBA vs WNBA three-point contest on 17 February 2024.

Steph Curry (Left) and Sabrina Ionescu (Right) in action
The Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu debate has been going on for a while, and fans have been outraged to know who is the fierce 3-point shooter. Photo: Dylan Buell , Sarah Stier (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and the New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu are famous for their abilities to score from deep. They have made history in the basketball world with their records and awards, and in their upcoming 3-point challenge, they both recognise that they are facing the best. Here are their respective profile summaries.

Steph Curry's profile summary

Full name

Wardell Stephen Curry II

Date of birth

14 March 1988

Age

35 (as of February 2024)

Nationality

American

Height

6 feet 2 inches or 188 centimetres

Weight

185 pounds or 84 kilograms

Occupation

Professional NBA player

NBA draft

2009: 1st round, 7th overall pick

Current team

Golden State Warriors

Position

Point guard

Years active

2009 - present

Greatest achievement

4-times NBA champion

Sabrina Ionescu's profile summary

Full name

Sabrina Elaine Ionescu

Date of birth

6 December 1997

Age

26 (as of February 2024)

Nationality

American

Height

5 feet 11 inches or 180 centimetres

Weight

165 pounds or 75 kilograms

Occupation

Professional WNBA player

WNBA draft

2020: 1st round, 1st overall pick

Current team

New York Liberty

Position

Point guard

Years active

2020 - present

Greatest achievement

2-times WNBA All-Star

Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu's 3-point shooting percentage

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on 8 February 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Dylan Buell
Source: Getty Images

The renowned Golden State Warriors star has played 928 games in his career and has averaged 28.8 points per game with a field goal percentage of 47.4 and a 3-point shooting percentage of 42.7.

On the other hand, the New York Liberty point guard has played 105 games in her career and has averaged 15.7 points per game with a field goal percentage of 40.9 and a 3-point shooting percentage of 37.7.

The NBA star is a 2-time 3-point champion and holds the record for the most 3-pointers made with 3,585. In contrast, the WNBA star is the WNBA and NBA all-time record holder in the 3-point contest with a record of 37 points out of the possible 40. She holds the WNBA record with 128 3-pointers in a single season.

How the Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu shootout challenge came about

The highlighted 3-point challenge between the renowned point guards at the NBA All-standout festivities began with the WNBA standout issuing the challenge following her record-breaking performance in her league's Midseason Classic in the 2022/23 season.

Following her incredible performance, she teased at challenging the NBA great to a 3-point shootout, which he stated he said he was up for the task. The Golden State Warriors veteran brought up the notion in a match against the Sacramento Kings on 25 January 2024, and she accepted the dare via social media. Curry told TNT,

I think this is like the coolest thing ever, I love the confidence, I love the competition. It is a new format on that stage. Obviously, I am coming to win. I think she is, too.
Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty warms up before the 2023 WNBA Finals
Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty warms up before the 2023 WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Centre on 18 October 2023 in New York City. Photo: Sarah Stier
Source: Getty Images

In the competition, NBA and WNBA rules and regulations will be followed, and thus Curry will shoot from the 3-point NBA line while Sabrina Ionescu will shoot from the WNBA 3-point line. They will both use their respective basketball balls.

After the point guards called each other out early in the season, the stage is set to determine the best 3-pointer. Their challenge will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis during All-Star Weekend and broadcast live on TNT.

Is Steph Curry a better shooter than Sabrina Ionescu?

Curry and Ionescu have averaged 42.7 and 37.7 3-point shooting percentages, respectively, in their careers. It is hard to judge who is the better shooter from their stats since they play in different leagues. The NBA veteran, however, has been active for over 15 years, while the WNBA star has been active for only four years.

Who is the youngest 3-point contest winner?

The youngest 3-point contest winner is Kyrie Irving, who won it when he was 20. The first seven-foot player to win the competition is Dirk Nowitzki, and the last person to win it back-to-back is Jason Kapono.

Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu's awards and achievements

Since the renowned NBA and WNBA point guards are among the best basketball players in the world, they have bagged numerous awards and trophies since their debut. Here are their respective awards and achievements.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket against the Brooklyn Nets
Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on 5 February 2024 in New York City. Photo: Al Bello
Source: Getty Images

Steph Curry

  • Four-time NBA champion
  • Two-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion
  • Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Finals MVP
  • Ten-times NBA All-Star
  • Four-time All-NBA First Team
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Two-time NBA scoring champion

Sabrina Ionescu

  • Two-times WNBA All-Star
  • WNBA Three-Point Shootout champion
  • Two-times All-WNBA Second Team
  • WNBA Commissioner's Cup Champion
  • NCAA all-time leader in career triple-doubles

Frequently asked questions

The point guards' charities will receive a grant from their respective leagues as part of the competition. They will generate funds for the NBA Foundation, which promotes economic development in the Black community. Here are the frequently asked questions about the pair.

How many MVPs does Stephen Curry have?

In his 14 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Steph Curry has bagged two NBA MVPs in addition to being a four-time NBA champion.

How many 3-pointers has Curry made?

The Golden State Warriors star has buried 3,615 three-pointers in his career. With such a number, he has gone in history as the greatest basketball player of all time. He currently holds the record for most 3-pointers in NBA history.

Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty dribbles during the second half against the Connecticut Sun
Sabrina of the New York Liberty dribbles during the second half against the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center on 26 September 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Photo: Sarah Stier
Source: Getty Images

What records does Steph Curry hold?

The renowned legend leads the NBA in 3-pointers, setting the record seven times, and has the greatest career free-throw percentage in the league's history. In 2013, he established the 3-pointer record in a regular season, which he broke in 2015 and again in 2016.

How much is Sabrina Ionescu paid?

The famous WNBA point guard signed a 2-year contract with the New York Liberty worth $410,060, including guaranteed $410,060 and an annual average salary of $205,030. In the 2023/24 season, she takes home a base salary of approximately $202,000.

Final word

In the highly hyped Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu upcoming contest, fans will determine who is the best 3-point shooter after their clash. The first-of-a-kind tournament will allow the NBA and WNBA fraternity to venture into a new dawn of basketball and improve the sport for the coming generations.

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A basketball is dribbled with two hands and scored on a basket, while a football is played with the feet and head to score against the opponents. Learn the difference between the two sports and determine which is better.

Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.