Ionescu wins 3-point contest, Cloud claims skills competition in Liberty All-Star sweep

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu put on another shooting clinic to win the 3-point contest for the second time at All-Star weekend on Friday night.

The Liberty's star guard, who also won the title in 2023 with a record performance, had a strong final round, scoring 30 points to beat defending champion Allisha Gray. It completed a New York sweep of the night with Liberty teammate Natasha Cloud winning the skills competition.

“It's fun, I was so excited for her, we were talking about it before we even came out here,” Ionescu said. “About being able to participate in it together and cheer each other on.”

Ionescu's effort was less than her record-breaking mark of 37 two years ago when she made 25 of 27 shots — the most ever in either the WNBA or NBA. The total of 30 matched the second-highest in the event, matching Allie Quigley's mark. Quigley is the only other player to win the contest more than once, doing it four times.

Ionescu didn't participate in last year's WNBA All-Star 3-point contest as she was focused on getting ready for the Olympics. But she was in Indianapolis for the NBA one, competing against Steph Curry in a special shootout. She fell just short then, but wouldn't lose again in Indianapolis.

“I called Steph and showed off the trophy,” Ionescu said.

Atlanta's Gray, who made her own history last year by winning the 3-point shootout and skills competition, fell short in both this time. She had 22 points in the 3-point contest.

Gray went last in the opening round and needed to beat Kelsey Plum’s 22 points to reach the final round. Gray hit her final four shots, including the money ball to tie Ionescu and advance.

Plum, from the Los Angeles Sparks, was looking to become the first player in WNBA history to win an All-Star MVP (2022), skills challenge (2023) and 3-point contest.

Lexie Hull who was a fill-in for Indiana teammate Caitlin Clark, who injured her right groin on Tuesday night, scored 20 points to finish fourth. Clark hyped up the crowd from the sideline before Hull's turn.

Washington rookie Sonia Citron scored 19 points in the opening round.

Cloud had the fastest time in the first round of the obstacle course that combines passing, dribbling and shooting. She needed to beat Seattle's Erica Wheeler’s mark of 37.5 seconds in the finals. Cloud won despite missing all three of her shots from the corner over the windmill defender. She was able to get through the obstacle course in 36.4 seconds — 1.1 faster than Wheeler.

After beating Wheeler, Cloud hugged Ionescu. She then picked up her girlfriend and Liberty teammate Isabelle Harrison and gave her a hug and kiss. Harrison had told Cloud that she needed to win so they could put a down payment on a house.

“You’re gonna get that house,” Cloud said after winning.

Cloud received $55,000 from Aflac as part of a partnership with the WNBAPA. She also receives $2,575 from the league for the victory, which was part of the collective bargaining agreement. Ionescu earned $60,000 for her win from Aflac plus the $2,575 from the league.

Ionescu said that she was going to give half of her money to Citron, a promise she made to the rookie before the contest.

“I told Sonya that I would give her half if I won when we were sitting on the bench, being the only rookie she was nervous, and I was nervous for her. Obviously have to hold up my end of the bargain. So half is going to go to her.”

This was Cloud's first All-Star weekend appearance in her 11-year career. She had never been invited to compete in the skills contest or play in the All-Star Game.

“I'm just really thankful for the opportunity,” Cloud said.

Wheeler competed a year after missing the competition in Phoenix because of flight issues due to a faulty software update that caused technological havoc worldwide. Wheeler spent a few years in Indiana and received a loud ovation from the fans when she was introduced.

Defending champion Gray, who was wearing custom A’ja Wilson shoes with “money sign” on them, was in trouble after missing all three of the chest passes, which slowed her time and spoiled her bid for a repeat.

She finished the course in 39.4 seconds, which was behind Cloud and Wheeler’s opening-round times. Courtney Williams (42.0) and Skylar Diggins (44.3) also didn’t make the final round.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu, left, holds the 3-point contest trophy while New York Liberty's Natasha Cloud holds the skills challenge trophy during the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu holds the trophy after winning the 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu shoots during the 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

New York Liberty's Natasha Cloud shoots during the skills challenge at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

New York Liberty's Natasha Cloud holds the trophy after winning the skills challenge at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

New York Liberty's Natasha Cloud shoots during the skills challenge at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Los Angeles Sparks's Kelsey Plum, from left, Washington Mystics' Sonia Citron, Indiana Fever's Lexi Hull, New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu and Atlanta Dream's Allisha Gray are introduced before the 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu, left, jokes with Los Angeles Sparks's Kelsey Plum during the skills challenge at the WNBA All-Star basketball weekend, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving 10 people accused of cyberbullying French first lady Brigitte Macron by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, allegations her daughter said damaged her health and family life.

The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are accused of posting “numerous malicious comments” falsely claiming that President Emmanuel Macron ’s wife was born a man and linking the 24-year age gap with her husband to pedophilia. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.

Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October.

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about what she described as the “deterioration” of her mother’s life since the online harassment intensified. “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,” Auzière told the court. She said the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.

Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and an author, is considered as having played a major role in spreading the rumor after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humor or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. They face up to two years in prison if convicted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Brigitte Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Emmanuel Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.

FILE - French President's wife Brigitte Macron arrives ahead of the ceremony outside "La Belle Equipe" bar, Thursday Nov. 13, 2025 in Paris as part of ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP, File)