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

While most fans are high on Caitlin Clark's popularity and prowess, she is now being criticized for not participating in the WNBA's three-point contest. 

With the WNBA All-Star Weekend set to begin in Phoenix, the Indiana Fever rookie - known for her range - surprisingly will not participate in the shootout on Friday night. 

On Thursday's Around the Horn, host Tony Reali asked the panel how the WNBA should feel about Clark's refusal to participate - prompting a frustrated response from David Dennis Jr. 

'I don't like it when the stars do not do these competitions,' Dennis said before citing MLB's Home Run Derby and the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest. 

'I didn't like not seeing Aaron Judge and Ohtani; I don't like seeing the Lebrons and the Zions [not] in the dunk contest,' he said. 

'But especially right now. For Caitlin Clark, this is a missed opportunity — as much for Caitlin Clark as it is for all those people who spent all that time talking about, 'How could Team USA not have her on the team?' Because 'How do you grow the game without Caitlin Clark?' This is another opportunity. What are they going to say now? Because Caitlin Clark has opted out of an opportunity that will grow the game.' 

Dennis went on to reference Sabrina Ionescu's record-setting performance at last year's three-point contest. The victory eventually led to her going head to head with Steph Curry in a special competition at the NBA All Star Weekend in February. 

'We saw when [Sabrina] Ionescu broke the record for the three-point competition,' Dennis said. 'She grew the game and it became a mainstream moment. So Caitlin Clark is opting out of that. Don't tell me she's tired. Because you wanted her on Team USA. 

'Don't tell me she doesn't want attention. Because if she was on Team USA, she'd be getting a lot of attention. There's really no excuse for her not to go out there and shoot a few threes for the betterment of the game that everybody says is so desperate for her to make grow.'

Like Dennis, Sarah Spain also expressed her disappointment in Clark's absence from the lineup for the event. She then noted how Ionescu is also skipping this year's contest. 

'No Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu in the 3-point competition Friday night in Phoenix,' Spain wrote on X. 'I'm sure they have their reasons, but that's MASSIVE disappointment. Such a missed opportunity.' 

Ionescu has a valid reason for not defending her crown as she has been called up to compete for the United States in the Olympics. However, Clark, whose exclusion from the team angered the fanbase, may have some clarification to do. 

To cap off this weekend's festivities, Clark and the WNBA All-Stars will take on Ionescu and Team USA. 

Clark led all players in All-Star votes despite her rookie status while averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game shooting 40.5 per cent from the field and 32.7 per cent from three.