Caitlin Clark won’t be competing at Chase Center in San Francisco during NBA All-Star weekend after all. She is going to wait until Indianapolis hosts the WNBA All-Star weekend in July to enter her first 3-point contest as a pro.

The Fever star declined an invitation to participate in a special challenge during NBA All-Star weekend next month, her representatives at Excel Sports said Wednesday.

There had been discussions for Clark to participate in a contest similar to the one that pitted Warriors star Step Curry against East Bay product Sabrina Ionescu in a 3-point shootout during last season’s NBA All-Star weekend. Curry beat the New York Liberty star. It was one of the highlights of the weekend.

There have been discussions around expanding that shootout this year when the NBA All-Star Game takes place in the Bay Area in two weeks.

Ionescu told The Associated Press earlier this month she planned to be at the All-Star festivities, but declined to elaborate whether she would be involved in any on-court activities.

Sports Business Journal was the first to report Clark’s decision.

Clark has a busy weekend ahead as her Iowa jersey will be retired on Sunday after the Hawkeyes face No. 4 USC.

College football

Miami’s Ward wins Manning Award >> Cam Ward’s college career got one more accolade as he was announced as the winner of the Manning Award as the nation’s top quarterback.

And the now-former Miami star, who quite possibly will be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft later this spring after leading the top-ranked offense in college football this past season, knows the award can be a springboard to good things at the next level.

Ward is the 20th winner of the award and the first Miami quarterback to have the honor, which was created by the Sugar Bowl to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. The three Mannings vote for the award, as do a panel of reporters.

Ward ended his college career with a Division I (FBS and FCS level) record 158 touchdown passes. His total of 18,189 passing yards — 6,908 at Incarnate Word, 6,968 at Washington State and 4,313 at Miami — is third-most in NCAA history behind only Case Keenum and Dillon Gabriel.

Men’s basketball

No. 1 Auburn rides Broome’s big game to win >> Johni Broome scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half and had 16 rebounds to help top-ranked Auburn beat LSU 87-74 in Louisiana for its 12th straight victory.

Auburn (19-1, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) matched the best 20-game start in school history.

Cam Carter led LSU (12-8, 1-6) with 24 points. Dji Bailey had 13, and Jordan Sears finished with 11.

Women’s basketball

Chen, Fudd score 17 each in No. 6 UConn’s win >> Kaitlyn Chen scored 17 points to match her season high, Azzi Fudd also had 17 and No. 6 UConn (20-2, 11-0) rolled past DePaul 84-58 in Chicago for its 10th straight win and 31st in a row in Big East regular-season play.

The Huskies used 10-0 and 18-2 third-quarter runs to pull away.

Leading scorer Paige Bueckers, who entered averaging 19.6 points per game, was held to eight matching her season low. The redshirt senior was able to rest starting in the third quarter.

Jorie Allen and Taylor Johnson-Matthews each scored 19 for DePaul (11-12, 6-4).

MLB

Royals to sign free-agent reliever Estévez >> The Royals and reliever Carlos Estévez have agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract, giving Kansas City another potential closer alongside former Oakland Athletic Lucas Erceg.

The deal includes a $13 million option with a $2 million buyout. Kansas City will have to clear a spot for Estévez on the 40-man roster when that happens.

The 32-year-old Estévez appeared in 54 games for the Angels and Phillies last season, compiling a 2.45 ERA over 54 appearances for the two clubs. He had 20 saves with the Angels and six for Philadelphia as the won the NL East.

He ultimately allow the decisive homer against the Mets in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

Estévez was an All-Star with the Angels two years ago, going 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 63 appearances that season.

Rays to sign free agent infielder Kim >> The Tampa Bay Rays and free agent Ha-Seong Kim have agreed to a two-year contract valued at $29 million, according to multiple reports.

Kim, who played his first four seasons in the majors with the San Diego Padres and won a Gold Glove in 2023, will be paid $13 million this year. He also could earn $2 million in performance bonuses.

The 29-year-old infielder from South Korea tore the labrum in his right shoulder on Aug. 18 and needed season-ending surgery. He hit .233 with 11 homers and 22 stolen bases in the final season.

NWSL

MVP Chawinga signs contract extension >> The Kansas City Current have signed National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player Temwa Chawinga to a three-year contract extension.

The deal would keep the forward from Malawi with the Current through the 2028 season.

Last season, her first with the team, Chawinga led the league with an NWSL single-season record of 20 goals. She also won the league’s Golden Boot.