Prized Pupil: Sonia Citron reveals why Sabrina Ionescu insists on keeping 3-point prize money promise

Ahead of Friday’s WNBA three-point contest, promises were made. Sabrina Ionescu said she would give half of the prize money to Sonia Citron if she were to win. The two were working together on the event and wanted to make sure they both got a little bit of love in case of success.

Ionescu emerged victorious, the second of her career. Thirty of 40 shot attempts went down, giving her a percentage of 75%. Now, Ionescu plans on delivering on the promise she made before the contest began. Even if Citron tried her best to avoid taking money away from her.

“I didn’t think she was being for real at all, but I guess she was,” Citron said. “We just talked on the bus and she was like, ‘No, I said it so I have to do it.’ And I was like, ‘No you don’t. Like, I really appreciate it but.’ But she said she has to keep her word. She’s amazing.”

The WNBA only gives out $2,575 to the three-point contest winner. However, Aflac, the event’s title sponsor, adds quite a significant prize of $60,000. All will be given to Ionescu for her efforts from Indianapolis.

From there, Citron will likely get a nice bank transfer from Ionescu. Not a bad pay day for anyone out there, especially someone who did not get a win. In what could have been something Ionescu avoided quite easily, delivering on her word is a great gesture.

“I told Sonia that I would give her half if I won when I was sitting on the bench,” Ionescu said. “As being the only rookie, she was nervous, and I was nervous for her. Obviously, I have to hold up my end of the bargain. So half is going to her, I’ve got to text her and let her know that I’m going to give her half of her. Just for participating, that takes a lot of courage as a rookie and what she did. I was really proud of her.”

Despite Citron’s loss in the WNBA 3-Point Contest, she’s had an extremely successful season. The Washington Mystics drafted Citron with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Through 22 games this season, Citron is averaging 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 45.0% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc. For her efforts, Citron was not only selected to compete in the 3-point contest but was named a WNBA All-Star.

On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report