Both Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu have often been hailed as the “female Stephen Curry“, a nickname rooted in their jaw-dropping shooting range, slick handles, and fearless ability to launch from way beyond the arc. While CC, known for her logo threes and record-shattering college stats, brought a fresh flair to the WNBA that immediately reminded fans of Curry’s long-ball revolution. Meanwhile, Ionescu’s all-around dominance at Oregon and her smooth transition into a leading role with the New York Liberty solidified her place in that same conversation. But while both guards earned praise for transforming the way women’s basketball is played, it seems the spotlight has now turned to a comparison between the two, but for all the wrong reasons!
It all came about as Sabrina Ionescu arrived with the New York Liberty to play at Chase Center for a recent game. “Just taking it all in… wanting to be the best basketball player I can be and knowing that there’s going to be kids in this arena who are sitting in seats just like I did,” she shared before taking the court.
But Saby’s performance was far from her best; in fact, it ended up being one of her worst. Despite averaging 20.4 points per game, she made only one field goal and a three-pointer with just under nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. That being said, she went on to add seven free throws in the final quarter, including a clutch streak with 26 seconds to go that proved critical.
Find a vet who supports you like sabrina support caitlin pic.twitter.com/qBDM0YEnjH
— 𝓜𝓪𝓻 (@Cait22fever) June 26, 2025
So while she was still a contributing factor in helping the New York Liberty secure a win against the Valkyries, she didn’t perform as expected, finishing with just 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 29 minutes of gameplay. And that happened on a court that holds deep meaning for her.
It’s because she gave out 50 tickets for the game, and Ionescu’s Liberty and Oregon jerseys were scattered throughout the stands. But none of it helped, as the night marked one of the lowest performances in Saby’s career amid boos from Valks supporters. So, while her numbers didn’t meet expectations, the moment did spark fan comparisons between Ionescu and Caitlin Clark, not for their shooting brilliance, but for their shared struggles.
“If You Stink, I Stink Too”, fans brutally mock Clark and Ionescu’s off nights
By the end of the night at Chase Center, fans didn’t hold back as they dove into the comment section to share their unfiltered opinions. After all, their shooting star and WNBA champion had landed on the wrong side of the stat sheet. “CC will never be alone with Sab in the league,” one spectator wrote, mocking how Sabrina Ionescu seemed to be replicating the shooting slump Caitlin Clark had experienced over the past few games.
And to be honest, that spectator wasn’t entirely wrong. Caitlin Clark—known for pulling up from 33 feet, which is roughly 11 feet beyond the standard three-point line—has been struggling from deep. She’s had some of her worst shooting nights lately. “If you stink, I stink with you,” another user added, reflecting how Clark’s slump seemed to be mirrored by Sabrina’s recent outing.
Jun 22, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Against the Seattle Storm, Clark finished with just six points, going 3-of-13 from the floor. Despite nine assists, three steals, and two rebounds, she missed all her three-point attempts. And that’s not a one-off—since Thursday’s loss to the Golden State Valkyries, the same game where Sabrina scored just seven points, Clark has gone 1-for-23 from beyond the arc.
Since fans were already drawing comparisons, they didn’t shy away from highlighting Clark’s other struggles either. “Nah, the turnovers aren’t high enough for real solidarity,” another user commented, sarcastically referring to Clark’s well-documented turnover issues. The criticism isn’t unfounded—just look at her recent game against the Storm, where she was fiercely guarded by Gabby Williams and ended with more turnovers (8) than points (6). While her turnovers have recently increased, this isn’t a new problem. In her rookie season, she averaged 5.8 turnovers per game. By comparison, elite rookies like Candace Parker averaged just 2.8 turnovers per game in her 2008 debut. Meanwhile, Sabrina had only one turnover in her latest game.
“Only 1 TO,” one fan pointed out, suggesting Sabrina was outperforming Clark. The comparison between the two point guards feels like the age-old debate over basketball GOATs. But there may be something else the two have in common that could be contributing to their underwhelming performances: injury.
“They are twinning,” another user wrote. Just recently, Clark returned for the Fever’s game against the New York Liberty, where she scored 32 points after dealing with a quadriceps injury. And that same injury could very well be hampering her explosiveness now. And as for Sabrina Ionescu, less than 24 hours ago, it was reported she’s been dealing with a neck injury that may have limited her performance, too. So maybe it’s not just about missed shots or turnovers, it might be about trying to power through physical setbacks. Will the long-range legends of the WNBA bounce back? Stay tuned to find out!
The post Sabrina Ionescu Joins Caitlin Clark in Ongoing Slump as WNBA Fans Draw Parallels Between Point Guards appeared first on EssentiallySports.
