Sophie Cunningham Left Out of WNBA 3-Point Contest Despite Elite Shooting Profile

What happened: Sophie Cunningham did not receive an invitation to the WNBA 3-point contest, according to Yahoo Sports, despite being described in the source story as one of the league’s best shooters. Cunningham, now with the Fever, reacted with disappointment and joked, “I need to buy a boat,” while talking about wanting the chance to compete for prize money.

Watch the highlights:

This is not a game result, but it is still tournament-relevant because skills contests are selection events. The field is limited, the criteria are not always fully visible from the outside, and snubs become part of All-Star weekend’s competitive conversation. Cunningham’s case lands in that lane: a player with a strong shooting reputation, left out of the 3-point showcase, publicly making light of the disappointment while still making clear she wanted in.

Why it matters: The 3-point contest is not just entertainment. It shapes how fans read a shooter’s standing across the league. Being invited can reinforce a player’s identity as one of the WNBA’s premier perimeter threats; being left out creates a comparison problem, especially when the omitted player has a credible shooting profile.

The money angle also matters because Cunningham’s joke points to a practical incentive. Prize money gives the contest a competitive edge beyond visibility, and players often treat these events as real opportunities rather than casual exhibitions. The source does not state the contest purse or Cunningham’s contract details, so the only confirmed point is that she referenced the prize money and framed it with the boat joke.

Tournament impact: The immediate impact is on the 3-point contest field rather than the Fever’s season. Cunningham will not be part of that event unless circumstances change, and the contest loses one shooter who believed she belonged in the lineup. For the players selected, the absence also removes a possible high-profile challenger, though the source summary does not list the invited field.

What to watch: The follow-up is whether the league or event organizers explain the selection logic, and whether Cunningham’s exclusion becomes a broader discussion about how the WNBA balances statistics, reputation, team representation and star power for skills events. If a participant withdraws or the field changes, Cunningham’s name may naturally come back into the conversation, but the source does not report any replacement scenario.

Confidence: Confirmed by the source: Cunningham was not invited to the WNBA 3-point contest, she plays for the Fever, Yahoo describes her as one of the league’s best shooters, and she joked, “I need to buy a boat,” in reference to wanting to compete for prize money. Still unclear: the full contest field, the exact selection criteria, and whether any alternate invitations could follow.