It was a shock to WNBA fans to see Caitlin Clark‘s name missing from the list of participants for the 2024 WNBA All-Star 3-point contest. On Friday, the Fever rookie explained that she was invited to compete but ultimately decided to sit out to prioritize the All-Star Game and get some rest.

“I’ve been playing basketball for a year straight,” Clark said. “It’s not an easy thing to just show up and shoot off a rack. It’s not something I’ve done before. It’s not something I’ve had a lot of time to practice. I’ve been helping my team win games. Just enjoying this break. There will be plenty of opportunities for me to do that at some point.”

she said, “I need a break, and I need to take some time to myself to enjoy what I want to do,” Clark added. “At times that can be tough being in the position that I’m in, but I think it’s going to be healthiest for myself.”