The Washington Mystics traded Brittney Sykes before the trade deadline. It shook the WNBA world, but the idea was clear for the franchise, which is now looking to build on its rookie players, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. Both 2025 All-Stars had been very effective for the team. Iriafen was also in the rookie of the year discussions for her outstanding performances.
Irafen and the Mystics lost their last game against the Minnesota Lynx. Even though Washington started the game on the right track, they fell to the Lynx with an 80-76 final score. As for the former Trojan star, she had a memorable night despite the team’s loss by breaking a franchise record.
Kiki Iriafen Breaks Washington Mystics Rookie Record After 26 Years
The Washington Mystics selected Sonia Citron with their third overall draft pick, and Kiki Iriafen was the fourth. The USC star, who won the Katrina McClain award in 2024, was a top power forward in college and proved her abilities at the pro level.
In the recent game against the Lynx, she put up another strong performance with nine rebounds and 13 points. With her ninth rebound, she now has grabbed 247 missed shots, setting a rookie season record for the franchise. The 21-year-old forward broke the record set by Chamique Holdsclaw in 1999.
Another one 📕 Kiki Iriafen now holds the franchise’s all-time rookie record for rebounds in a single season!
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 9, 2025
A rookie record hates to see Kiki coming 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/imOFSUrJNl
Interestingly, Holdsclaw set the record in 31 games while Kiki Iriafen took 30 games to surpass her tally. The USC star is leading the team in rebounds this season with an 8.2 average. She also ranks third with an average of 12.1 points per game.
The 6-foot-3 forward had been an effective starter for Sydney Johnson. The 51-year-old coach trusted his young team, which dazzled the league in the early phase. Yet, a slow and inconsistent second half dropped the Mystics to the 10th position. They are currently in a challenging position to make the playoffs.
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Kiki Iriafen Shines In Strong Rookie Season For Mystics
Iraen set a record for most rebounds as a Mystics rookie and had a productive first year in the ‘W’. In her opening five games, she recorded four consecutive double-double performances. With that, she won the Rookie of the Month accolade. She also broke Holdsclaw’s rookie double-double record in the first half of the 2025 season.
Furthermore, Kiki Iriafen was the fastest Washington rookie star to score 100 points and 80 rebounds in the first eight games. She earned her first All-Star call in 2025, making her part of history alongside Sonia Citron and Paige Bueckers. She was also the first Mystics’ Rookie to play in an All-Star game since their opening season.
With Sonia Citron’s and Iriafen’s success, there is no question why the Capital City is looking to invest in 2026 draft picks. They now have three first-round picks for the upcoming draft.