The league's top first- and second-year talent takes center stage on Tuesday, when young 2025 WNBA All-Stars battle it out for a spot above the playoff line.
Indianapolis-bound Washington Mystics rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are currently hosting fellow All-Star reserve and WNBA sophomore Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, with both teams desperate to ascend the WNBA standings.
"She's just more present and confident, and they're playing through her," Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson said of Reese and her recent record rebounding.
Tuesday's slate features four teams aiming to curb recent skids before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend takes over the league:
- No. 12 Chicago Sky vs. No. 9 Washington Mystics, 11:30 AM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Mystics hope to break out of ninth place against a struggling Sky, though Chicago's looking up after going toe-to-toe with the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
- No. 8 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 3 New York Liberty, 8 PM ET (ESPN): Las Vegas follows their up-and-down form into a matchup with recent rivals New York, while the lagging Liberty manage injured starters and a string of tough losses.
All-Stars step up in the biggest moments, and every move matters as the 2025 WNBA season inches closer to its mid-point.
The 2025 All-Star Game draft pool is complete, as the WNBA dropped the 12-player reserves list on Sunday to round out the group of 22 league standouts who'll battle in Indianapolis later this month.
Washington rookie phenoms Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen received their first career nods, making the Mystics the first WNBA team in 26 years to see two league debutants become All-Stars.
The Washington duo aren't the only first-timers to make Sunday's All-Star cut, with both Seattle's Gabby Williams and Golden State's Kayla Thornton earning spots on the 2025 reserves list.
All-Star captains Napheesa Collier (Minnesota) and Caitlin Clark (Indiana) will also now have access to Skylar Diggins (Seattle), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana), Kelsey Plum (LA), Angel Reese (Chicago), Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix), Courtney Williams (Minnesota), and Jackie Young (Las Vegas) alongside the previously announced starters to build out their teams.
Coaches catch heat for All-Star decisions
While a mix of fans, players, and media members vote to determine the All-Star Game starters, WNBA head coaches choose the reserves — and some players weren't exactly happy with this year's outcome.
"Whatever about me…. But taking 2, and NOT including the best player from a below 500 team is crazy," LA forward Dearica Hamby posted on Sunday, blasting the coaches for not including Mystics guard Brittney Sykes.
"I don't know why only [Collier] and [Williams] are All-Stars when you have the best team in the league by a few games," Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve, whose Lynx currently lead the WNBA by a large 4.5-game margin, told reporters. "There are teams that are below us in the standings by a lot that have three All-Stars."
Reeve is referencing No. 4 Seattle and No. 7 Indiana, who lead the charge with a trio of All-Stars each.
While six teams, including Minnesota, each boast two players in the pool, four — Chicago, Dallas, Golden State, and LA — will be repped by one player at the 2025 All-Star Game.
With just two wins on the season, the last-place Connecticut Sun is the only WNBA team to not field an All-Star this year.
How to watch the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game draft
Clark and Collier will draft their 2025 WNBA All-Star Game teams during Tuesday's broadcast of WNBA Countdown, airing at 7 PM ET on ESPN.
The WNBA Class of 2025 is already making its mark on the league, with first-year players stepping up and showing out while the Rookie of the Year race — and betting odds — heat up.
No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers has been just as good as advertised, with the Dallas Wings guard leading her class in both minutes played and points per game while also charting league-wide in assists per game, steals per game, and mid-range shots made.
DraftKings currently has Bueckers as the clear WNBA Rookie of the Year race frontrunner at -1,000, though the dynamic DC duo of guard Sonia Citron (+1,500) and forward Kiki Iriafen (+1,000) are quickly gaining traction.
Iriafen won May's WNBA Rookie of the Month award after a series of career-opening double-doubles, while her Washington Mystics teammate Citron has continued to execute in the clutch — most recently posting a career-high double-double performance of 27 points and 11 rebounds in last Sunday's 91-88 overtime win over Dallas.
"Not only is [Iriafen] holding her own, she's excelling," Citron told JWS earlier this month. "And seeing that is just incredible."
"Soni just does all the little things," Iriafen added. "She doesn't shortcut anything, she's doing the fundamentals, she doesn't cheat the game at all."
Things got a little heated in the fourth quarter of last week's Washington Mystics win over Chicago.
The DC-based WNBA team held a slim 62-60 lead over the Sky, when a contested rebound turned into a jump ball that Chicago head coach Tyler Marsh strongly disagreed with — costing him a technical foul from the sideline.
Washington veteran Brittney Sykes could have taken the subsequent free throw, adding to a 32-point performance on a night when it felt like the 31-year-old couldn't miss. Fourth-year center Shakira Austin was also on the floor, as was third-year guard Sug Sutton.
Instead, the player stepping up to the stripe turned out to be rookie guard Sonia Citron. She calmly sank the shot for her 11th point of the game, giving Washington a little more daylight as they held on for their fifth win of the season.
Of course, Citron stepping up in the clutch is not exactly surprising. The Notre Dame alum has quickly made a name for herself in the early weeks of the 2025 WNBA season, alongside teammate and fellow first-round draft pick Kiki Iriafen — whose power was on full display Tuesday night as she battled with Sky forward Angel Reese.
"Kiki was in some foul trouble, but that didn't take away from her aggressiveness, and she played smart with fouls. You don't really get to see that with a lot of rookies," Sykes said after the game. "Soni came in. Soni does what she does."
And this past Sunday, they did it again. Taking the Dallas Wings to overtime, the Mystics rookies proved perfectly in sync. They executed a crucial jump-ball possession in the final seconds, before Citron hit the game-winner to top off a 27-point performance.
A little over a month in, Iriafen and Citron have already presented DC with a new dynamic duo. The pair embodies a new vision for the downtrodden Mystics — one that will hopefully return them to the WNBA's top ranks.
Washington's 2025 WNBA Draft night gamble
Following a breakthrough 2019 title win, Washington has sat in danger of spinning their wheels. They managed just two playoff berths in the last four seasons. They never failed to challenge opponents, but lacked the consistency necessary to keep up with the league's latest dynasties.
Then, in 2025, the Mystics took a risk. Faced with two paths — forge ahead with the status quo or attempt to start anew — they blew everything up. The team moved on from the father-son duo of general manager Mike and head coach Eric Thibault. Then, they brought on new GM Jamila Wideman and first-time WNBA head coach Sydney Johnson.
The team also doubled down on 2025 draft prospects, signing three first-rounders in No. 3 Citron, No. 5 Iriafen, and No. 6 Georgia Amoore, as well as retaining third-round pick Lucy Olsen out of Iowa. And despite hitting a setback after Amoore suffered a season-ending ACL injury during training camp, following the highs and lows of their youngest players has become the Mystics' new normal.
Thankfully, the trust in their rookies is paying off, with both Citron and Iriafen looking like naturals on the professional court — and averaging double-digit scoring along the way.
"They're going to move up in people's scouting reports. I'm pretty sure of that," Johnson said after the duo's first start, describing his rookies as simultaneously confident and coachable. Iriafen opened her career with a string of double-doubles, a feat that resulted in the 21-year-old's first Rookie of the Month award.
For her part, Citron trails only No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers in points per game among rookies. She also manages heavy minutes, recording more than 10 points in every game this season.
Suddenly, the Mystics' risky turnaround looks like a sure thing, thanks to a talented young pair who couldn't be more different from one another.
A smooth transition from college to the WNBA
Before the 2025 WNBA Draft, Iriafen and Citron only knew each other by force of reputation. They grew up on different coasts — Citron in New York, Iriafen in California — and only played each other once in college. That was during Iriafen's senior season as a USC transfer and Citron's final season at Notre Dame.
"I was kind of intimidated by her, I'm not gonna lie," Citron told Just Women's Sports with a smile, drawing a laugh from Iriafen. Even though, Iriafen admitted, she didn't know much about the Notre Dame guard either — other than that she was a beast on the court.
The two rookies didn't share much with one another on draft night. It was a hectic evening, filled with emotions, loved ones, and a very busy first round for the Mystics. But once the new recruits made their way into market, things began to lock into place.
"Since we got here, and I've been in DC, I feel like I've known her for years. We kind of just clicked instantly, along with Georgia and Lucy [Olsen]," Iriafen said.
The Mystics helped the newcomers transition from the college game to the pros. As Iriafen and Citron tell it, the entire organization made both rookies feel not just welcome but needed from the moment they stepped into training camp.
"One thing [Johnson] said early on was, 'With big opportunity comes big responsibility,'" Citron said. "And the fact that he trusted us and had confidence in us to say that and really believe it, I think it made us believe in ourselves."
"It feels like I'm a person," echoed Iriafen. "I don't feel like I'm just an athlete or just a business decision. I feel like this is my second family."
Mystics make room for the new kids
Washington has certainly tapped into their rookies' collective confidence, giving Iriafen and Citron far greater opportunities than many first-year players in the WNBA. The pair are trusted with both opening and closing rotations, leaning into the freedom to connect with players across the team.
Citron noted that her Notre Dame coaches were particularly excited for her to join the Mystics, knowing that she'd develop quickly through extended playing time. "Experience is the best way to learn. You're going to get thrown in the fire, and that's how you're going to become a great player," she recalls being told.
Iriafen voiced a similar feeling. "There's just so much opportunity here," she added. "That's why you're able to see a lot of success with us — we have the ability to play and make mistakes."
Far from intimidating, the pair say that their new teammates have embraced the rookie class with excitement and full support. And there seems to be few insecurities around the prospect of draftees walking in and taking their spots.
"We're not alone at all. It's not like we felt it's us versus them," said Citron. "In no way did it ever feel like it was [all] on our shoulders."
"I think that's really the essence of the Mystics as a family," said Iriafen. "You fight with your siblings, you don't always get along with your siblings. But at the end of the day, we're one family."
Iriafen and Citron learned to lean on their vets
Both players point to veterans on the Mystics squad who have stepped up to provide advice and encouragement — for Iriafen, it's Austin, and for Citron it's Sykes. Though they've also gotten plenty of help beyond Washington's roster.
"One thing that I've really appreciated being in the league so far is [how] the vets are talking to me even though we're on opposing teams," Iriafen said. "BG, Stewie, they're giving me advice on, 'Hey, I'm able to get you on this because of this and this.'"
"Kiki came in and she's not playing like a rookie," Atlanta Dream center Britney Griner confirmed after the Dream's June 15th win over the Mystics. "She wasn't scared of any of us out there. She's coming right at us. You see her working. She seems like an amazing person."
Washington's rookie performances have clearly been noticed throughout the league, with mutual respect mounting in every corner. The learning curve for a WNBA first-year is steep, and sometimes praise is hard to come by. But their hard work has set Citron and Iriafen apart from the pack.
"Sonia, her poise has always stuck out. Even when she was at Notre Dame," said Chicago's Marsh. "One of her greatest attributes is her ability to play at her own pace and not get sped up. And she's carried that with her into her early career here in W."
"And Kiki — her aggressiveness, offensively and defensively," he continued. "She's not afraid of the moment. She's not afraid of the matchups."
With Washington behind them, the rookies find their groove
With so many players and staff already firmly in their camp, it's easy for Citron and Iriafen to gas each other up. Iriafen describes Citron as "stone cold" and a "silent assassin," joking about how different they are when the competition heats up.
"I can be a little bit extra when I play, which I like," Iriafen laughed. "Soni's the opposite. The only time Soni makes a face is if her teammates do something."
On the other hand, Citron thinks Iriafen's passing ability is underrated, and notes that her teammate doesn't get guarded like a rookie — not a small feat considering the WNBA's elite post player lineup.
"People on the free throw line have to pinch her," Citron said. "We do that to the vets [when] we need help, like we can't do it on our own. And they're doing that to her as a rookie. That says something."
"Not only is she holding her own, she's excelling," she continued. "And seeing that is just incredible."
Occupying complementary positions on the court, fans can see the connection building between the pair as they evolve from executing set plays to moving instinctively around one another. Their chemistry is palpable on the pick-and-roll, stifling defenses with backdoor cuts in the post, trusting the exact right pass will arrive.
"It's not even something that I'm thinking about, my body's just doing it," said Iriafen. "I feel like she's always in the right spot."
"Soni just does all the little things," she continued. "She doesn't shortcut anything. She's doing the fundamentals, she doesn't cheat the game at all. And I think that's why she's able to be so successful."
Playing with joy, Iriafen and Citron eye the WNBA postseason
For all of Washington's early success, the organization understands that rebuilding is a process that takes longer than a single season. The Mystics currently sit at No. 9 in the WNBA standings with a 6-8 record, with the hope of turning close losses into wins as the year progresses.
That perspective hasn't deterred Citron and Iriafen, though, with the rookies making it clear they'd like to see Washington in the playoffs this season — while also knowing to measure success beyond wins and losses.
"It's about the sisterhood that we have, and the joy that we have playing together," said Citron. "So after 44 games, we want to still be able to be around each other, love each other like a family. Like sisters."
Iriafen said she wanted to remember her rookie year as one filled with joy. She defined the term as "when even in the tough moments, you're able to find the good in it."
"If I can look back and be like, this was such a joyful season, I was around so many people that brought me joy every single day, that would be a success," she said.
Friday's WNBA action promises to bring the heat, delivering a major homecoming for new LA star Kelsey Plum as well as strategic veteran moves and rookies looking to right the ship while newly revamped teams continue to gel.
In the wake of significant offseason movement, the 2025 WNBA season is all about striking a balance between developing young talent and leveraging seasoned stars as former franchise players take on very familiar opponents.
Veteran-heavy teams will shoot to manage workloads this weekend, as powerhouse squads juggle shifting lineups while those that trailed last year fight to rise up the WNBA standings.
Highlighting the Friday night slate are a trio of games, all airing on ION:
- No. 1 New York Liberty (5-0) vs. No. 7 Washington Mystics (3-3), 7:30 PM ET: The reigning champion Liberty managed to eke out an 82-77 win over 2025 expansion side Golden State without injured stars Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally on Thursday — but can they hold off a Mystics team punching above their weight behind standout rookie duo Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen?
- No. 10 Los Angeles Sparks (2-4) vs. No. 6 Las Vegas Aces (2-2), 10 PM ET: Sparks guard Kelsey Plum will face her former teammates for the first time on Friday, taking on a Las Vegas side searching for redemption after Seattle spoiled Aces guard Jewell Loyd's own homecoming in last weekend's WNBA action.
- No. 2 Minnesota Lynx (5-0) vs. No. 3 Phoenix Mercury (4-1), 10 PM ET: Two of the league's top performers will hit the court in Arizona, as perennial MVP candidates Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas go head-to-head for the first time in 2025.
A few teams have already faced adversity this year, but even more have settled into the grind as the longest-ever WNBA season rolls into June.
The Washington Mystics have continued to impress in the early 2025 WNBA season, earning another big win on Wednesday with an 83-77 victory over a Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever.
As the star guard watched from the sidelines, the Mystics leaned into their depth, securing the win behind a 21-point, nine-rebound performance from guard Brittney Sykes.
Now sitting sixth in the league with a 3-3 record, Washington's rebuild appears to be moving ahead of schedule, with rookie duo Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron looking pro-ready from the jump.
Seizing their opportunity as day-one starters, the pair put up a collective 29 points against Indiana on Wednesday, joining Sykes and forward Shakira Austin as the only Mystics to finish in double digits.
Indiana, on the other hand, looked shaky without their injured young superstar.
Despite veteran forward DeWanna Bonner coming off the bench to lead the Fever with 21 points on Wednesday night, Indiana dropped to 2-3 on the season with Clark out for at least three more games.
"We weren't sharp enough to be a contender for anything tonight," Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, who led Indiana's starters with 14 points, told reporters after the loss. "I think getting punched in the mouth early is humbling, because it shows where we need to be."
How to watch the Mystics and Fever in this week's WNBA action
Both Washington and Indiana will be back in action on Friday night, when the Mystics will test their form against the surging New York Liberty while the Fever tip off against the still-winless Connecticut Sun at 7:30 PM ET.
Both games will air live on ION.
The 2025 WNBA season tipped off with a bang this weekend, with blockbuster rookie debuts, early MVP candidates, and a high-energy team launch driving headlines.
The league's sharpshooters wasted no time in establishing their dominance, as high-scoring performances erupted from coast to coast.
Saturday saw Las Vegas's 2024 MVP A'ja Wilson drop 31 points and 16 rebounds against reigning champs New York, but a breakout 22-point, nine-assist performance from Liberty newcomer Natasha Cloud secured the Brooklyn squad a 92-78 win.
Also on Saturday, Caitlin Clark notched her first triple-double of the season, racking up 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to boost the Indiana Fever 93-58 over the Chicago Sky.
Meanwhile, with seven points of her own, Indiana's DeWanna Bonner passed Houston legend Tina Thompson on the WNBA's all-time scoring list to sit at No. 3 behind only retired Phoenix superstar Diana Taurasi and current Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles.
Across Minnesota's two weekend games, 2024 MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier tallied an impressive 57 points, fueling an undefeated Lynx run that left both Dallas and LA in the dust.
Making franchise history this weekend were Phoenix's Satou Sabally and LA's Kelsey Plum, whose 27- and 37-point debuts were the highest scoring performances ever recorded by a roster newcomer on each respective team.
2025 WNBA Draft class hits the court
Speaking of debuts, the new kids in the league also made a splash, with several 2025 draftees making their first professional minutes count.
Dallas rookie and 2025's overall No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers held her own in Friday's physical 99-84 loss to Minnesota, scoring the Wings' first basket en route to a 10-point performance.
Elsewhere, new Washington recruits Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen each dropped a pair of double-digit showings for a combined 65 points across their first two pro games, leading the Mystics to a surprise 2-0 start with opening weekend wins over Atlanta and Connecticut.
With the 2025 WNBA season officially in full swing, expect these early results to build as heavy-hitters continue to excel while new additions strive to meet — and exceed — expectations.
WNBA rookies like Paige Bueckers — the overall No. 1 pick at the 2025 Draft — touched down in Dallas on Wednesday, tipping off a new era of Wings basketball ahead of next week's team training camp.
"There is a lot of new in this organization, so to be a part of something where we can build with each other and create a new sisterhood, we're really excited," Bueckers said at the Wings' introductory press conference.
"Plus, we got these hats, the cowboy boots — we're ready to invest all of ourselves into Dallas," she added, flanked by fellow Dallas rookies Aziaha James, Madison Scott, JJ Quinerly, and Aaronette Vonleh.
2025 WNBA rookies gear up for team training camps
The coming season's training camps officially begin on Sunday, with a new generation of WNBA stars landing in their pro markets this week.
"I'm excited to be with everyone on this team," said Bueckers. "We've got some dogs. I'm excited to build that in camp, build the passion, build the excitement of a new system, a new coaching staff, a new team."
"Everybody's been so welcoming," No. 3 overall pick Sonia Citron said about her new home with the Washington Mystics this week. "And you can really tell the culture that they have here."
"I'm not new to having to learn a new system, and a new coaching staff, and new teammates," said two-time NCAA transfer Hailey Van Lith, who went 11th overall to the Chicago Sky following a breakout final college season with TCU.
"My mindset going into any team is, 'How can I help this team win?'" added Van Lith. "I'll figure that out very quick, I'm assuming."
"I'm really grateful to be part of this organization, especially with so many people that have poured so much into this," said Kaitlyn Chen, a surprise third-round pick by 2025 expansion team Golden State. "And to have this much support coming into such a tough league means a lot."
The new pros will have to get their bearings quickly, as May 16th's season tip-off — and the unavoidable roster cuts that come before it — are fast approaching.
After UConn superstar Paige Bueckers set the tone as the overall No. 1 pick, the rest of Monday night’s 2025 WNBA Draft played out without too many surprises, as teams stocked up on fresh talent from both home and abroad.
The Seattle Storm selected French phenom Dominique Malonga second, before the Washington Mystics took Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron at No. 3 and USC forward Kiki Iriafen at No. 4.
Incoming expansion team Golden State threw the night’s initial curveball with their first-ever draft pick, adding Lithuanian forward Justé Jocyté to the Valkyries' inaugural roster at No. 5.
However, Jocyté's availability remains a question mark, with the 19-year-old confirming her intent to join her national team for this summer's EuroBasket.
Young stars earn first round selections at the 2025 WNBA Draft
The rest of Monday's first round showcased NCAA and international standouts alike, with teams prioritizing both skills, potential, and team fit as they strategized and vied to load their draft boards with top talent.
The exception to the original first-round lineup was Las Vegas, whose No. 10 pick was rescinded after a 2023 investigation found the Aces guilty of violating league policies.
- No. 6: Georgia Amoore (Kentucky) to the Washington Mystics
- No. 7: Aneesah Morrow (LSU) to the Connecticut Sun
- No. 8: Saniyah Rivers (NC State) to the Connecticut Sun
- No. 9: Sarah Ashlee Barker (Alabama) to the LA Sparks
- No. 10: Ajša Sivka (Slovenia) to the Chicago Sky
- No. 11: Hailey Van Lith (TCU) to the Chicago Sky
- No. 12: Aziaha James (NC State) to the Dallas Wings
With the 2025 WNBA season starting in just one month, the new draftees will soon be joining their pro teams in training camp, where final roster decisions will be made as franchises make difficult cuts en route to May 16th's opening tip-off.
"The WNBA is so unique with how powerful the talent is because it is so small," said Van Lith, who's set to link up with her former LSU teammate Angel Reese at the Chicago Sky this year. "It's a competition that I'm ready to embrace, that I'm excited to embrace."
With the 2025 WNBA Draft tipping off on Monday night, experts across women’s basketball are busy predicting the results, as this year’s sure-thing overall No. 1 pick begets question marks down the line.
Barring a shocking surprise, the Dallas Wings will snap up UConn star Paige Bueckers first, ushering in a new era of Texas basketball.
The rest of the lottery is more of a mystery, with one lesser-known name projected to shake up the early picks.
Mock drafts from both ESPN and The Athletic have the Seattle Storm using their No. 2 spot to select 19-year-old French center Dominique Malonga, pivoting away from the NCAA-to-WNBA pipeline.
After the top two picks, opinions diverge, with factors like team-fit and overall talent influencing WNBA teams' strategies as they eye the guard-heavy field.
Among the top NCAA players expected to go early in Monday's first round are Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron, USC forward Kiki Iriafen, and LSU forward Aneesah Morrow.
Sportsbooks are also weighing in, with FanDuel currently favoring Citron at No. 3 (-140), Iriafen at No. 4 (+170), and Morrow at No. 5 (+105).
How to watch the 2025 WNBA Draft
With commissioner Cathy Engelbert set to announce the No. 1 pick shortly after 7:30 PM ET, live coverage of Monday's 2025 WNBA Draft will begin at 7 PM ET on ESPN.