The WNBA is getting fresh looks every season. With talented stars coming in through the draft, the league’s rookie class has been much stronger since 2024. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese redefined the term ‘new entrants.’ And more importantly, the trend continues in 2025 also, with players like Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron making a great case.
It’s not just the numbers but the impact, too. The rookies are taking over their respective franchises, and teams are happy to give them the lead role. The recent All-Star lineup announcement is another example of the impact of the current freshers.
Paige Bueckers Becomes Part Of Exclusive WNBA Record
The All-Star game will be played at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indiana on July 19. The reserves list was announced on July 6. Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron joined the line up with the Washington-pair voted for the gala event by the coaches. With PB already making the All-Star starters list, the rookie count for the 2025 WNBA All-Star game moves up to three.
This is just the fifth time in the league’s history that three rookies will be part of the high-profile game. The last time it happened was in 2011, and now, 14 years later, the Dallas Wings Guard and Mystics duo will be part of history.
Paige Bueckers’ record rookie year continues to glow brighter. In All-Star voting, she set a record as the highest vote-getter rookie in the game’s history. She ended up receiving 805,471 fan votes, breaking the previous season-high of 700,735, set by Caitlin Clark.
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Iriafen will join Angel Reese, Alyssa Thomas, and Kayla Thornton in the front-court reserves, while Sonia Citron will be with some of the elite guards like Skylar Diggins, Kelsey Mitchell, Courtney Williams, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and Gabby Williams. With the talented rookie pool, they replace former All-Stars like Alanna Smith and Brionna Jones.
Paige Bueckers Facing Rookie Of The Season Challenge From Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen
The 2025 first overall pick was the outright favorite for the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year accolade. She is still leading the race with her match-winning performances. Leading the Wings in scoring (18.7 points), assists (5.1 assists) and steals (1.8 steals), the UConn star is leading the charts. But she now has formidable challengers for the prestigious award.
The Washington Mystics had the third and fourth overall picks in the 2025 WNBA draft. The franchise took Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen to shape their future. The 6-ft-3 forward currently ranks fourth in the league in rebounding, making her presence felt in the paint region. The USC Trojans member is also handy on the offensive end, with 12.3 points and 1.3 assists per game.
Citron, on the other hand, has been a multi-faceted asset for the Mystics. She is second in scoring with 14.6 points per game and third in rebounding with 4.9 rebounds per game amongst the league’s rookies. The playmaker also averages two assists per game, enough to put her in the top five rankings among the 2025 draft class. With very few other rookies getting an opportunity to shine, these three stars are considered top contenders for the 2025 Rookie of the Year award.
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