WNBA fans FUME over All-Star 3-point challenge prize money as it's revealed league will pay players $47.5K less than NBA counterparts... with sponsor stepping in to 'supplement' contest

Winners of Friday night's WNBA skills competitions in Phoenix will see receive a significantly larger prize package than previous champions.

Insurance giant Aflac has pledged $55,000 bonuses for whomever wins the skills challenge and 3-point contest on Friday in Phoenix, where Saturday's All-Star game will also be held.

'Aflac is supplementing the league's pay with a $55,000 bonus for each of the winners of the skills challenge and three-point contest,' Seattle Storm star and players' union president Nneka Ogwumike announced on X. 'This amazing contribution brings us closer to parity with our brothers in basketball. We're so grateful for Aflac's commitment to recognizing and celebrating the hard work and talent of the Players!'

Eagle-eyed fans will notice that Ogwumike's post stressed that Aflac is 'supplementing' the prize money.

The WNBA already offers prize money for its winners, but according to the collective-bargaining agreement, that bounty only amounts to $2,575 – a far cry from the $50,000 the league's parent, the NBA, pays its 3-point champion.

The issue has taken center stage entering this weekend's All-Star festivities after both Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu raised eyebrows by refusing to take part in the 3-point contest.

'Not much financial incentive for Sabrina Ionescu or Caitlin Clark to participate in the WNBA 3-Point Contest,' Sportico's Lev Akabas wrote on X. 'The winner's prize is a mere $2,575... Clark reportedly signed an endorsement deal worth $28 million this year.'

'This has gotta change,' sports photographer Bri Lewerke wrote on X. 'The WNBA 3PT contest winner getting $2,575 and non-winners getting $1,000 is next to nothing. To get big players to compete (& therefore get higher ratings, more ticket sales, more $) they need to be fairly compensated.'

The WNBA has confirmed to DailyMail.com that both All-Stars were offered the chance to compete before ultimately opting to decline the invitation. Neither player has officially given a reason, and their respective teams and agents have not returned DailyMail.com's requests for comment.

'My focus is on this game tonight and then we'll turn to All-Star then after that,' Clark told reporters after setting the WNBA's single-game assist mark on Wednesday's loss in Dallas.

Many in the media mistakenly assumed the pair were being denied the chance to compete on Friday in Phoenix.

'And just when you thought the WNBA couldn't seem more out of touch,' read an X post from OutKick, 'Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu won't be participating in the 3-point contest at the All-Star Game this weekend.'

'Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu are NOT in the 3 pt competition at the WNBA all star game?' asked Sirius XM's Maggie Gray. 'Someone explain this to me like I'm five.'

'I don't know how you have a 3-point contest without Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu,' read a post from For The Win's Meghan L. Hall. 'I am baffled by that. That is a MASSIVE miss to me.'

ESPN's Sarah Spain was equally baffled, but didn't presume to blame the WNBA: 'No Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu in the 3-point competition Friday night in Phoenix. I'm sure they have their reasons, but that's MASSIVE disappointment. Such a missed opportunity.'

Instead of Clark and Ionescu, the WNBA 3-point contest will include New York's Jonquel Jones, Atlanta's Allisha Gray, Connecticut's Marina Mabrey, Washington's Stefanie Dolson and Minnesota's Kayla McBride.

Clark and Ionescu's absences will be notable at Friday's competition in Phoenix as both rank among the league's most prolific 3-point shooters.

While Clark ranks only 37th in the league with 32.7-percent accuracy from 3-point range, she's hit 71 shots from deep this season, which is good enough for third in the league.

Ionescu, meanwhile is in second with 74 3-pointers on the season and ranks 24th in accuracy at 35.6 percent.