The 2025 All-Star Weekend promises to be unforgettable as Indianapolis hosts the event for the first time. Leading the charge is the city’s beloved star, Caitlin Clark, who earned the captain’s spot by racking up a record-shattering 1,293,536 fan votes, the highest total ever received by any player in a single WNBA season. Against her will is the current MVP front-runner, Napheesa Collier, who received record votes as well. Among the starters, the only rookie is Paige Bueckers, but there is a catch!
The standout guard finished second in fan voting at her position with 805,471 votes, behind only Clark, while also ranking fifth in media voting and fourth among players. But she won’t be the only rookie taking the court. Questions? Washington’s exciting first-year duo, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron, were named reserves in the official list released by the league today.
Their selection is historic. Citron and Iriafen become just the second rookie pair from the same team to be named All-Stars in their debut season. The only other instance came in 1999, when Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Shannon Johnson, and Nykesha Sales represented the Orlando Miracle in the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game. Since that was the league’s debut season, Citron and Iriafen are essentially the first rookie duo from the same team to earn this honor under normal competitive conditions.
Also, Paige Bueckers and the duo make three rookies at the All-Star Game, making it the first instance since 2011. The two have propelled the Mystics to genuine playoff contention this season. For a team in transition, they are performing exceptionally well, being 8-10 so far this season. The two have dominated the court being quite the team along with Brittney Sykes. However, not everyone is on board the Kitron train, as fans have expressed dissatisfaction over the duo’s selection.
Fans Voice Frustration Over Rookie Duo’s All-Star Selection
The Washington Mystics entered the season with modest expectations, viewed by many as a team in transition. But rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have quickly changed that narrative. With poise beyond their years and performances that have turned heads across the league, they’ve propelled the Mystics into a much more competitive position than anticipated. Still, as their All-Star selections spark debate, one question lingers. Have their contributions truly earned them a place among the league’s elite this soon? These fans disagree.
Respectfully they both shouldn’t have been chosen lol https://t.co/9h3b37bRUc
— Point5theGoat (@18MoneyMoney95) July 6, 2025
“Only one of these rookies deserved to be an all-star, I’m sorry,” wrote one fan. By obvious calculation, the fan meant Paige Bueckers, who is a starter this season. Bueckers is the undisputed all-star, but there is a solid argument regarding the other two as well. Citron, the third overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, has been a steady and impactful presence for Washington with 14.6 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.
Iriafen, selected fourth overall, has emerged as one of the league’s top rebounders. She ranks fourth overall in the WNBA with 8.3 boards per game, while adding 12.3 points on 45.9 percent shooting. The USC product also made history as the first Mystic to be named Rookie of the Month, earning the honor in May.
“But how was the best player on the Mystics, Brittney Sykes, forgotten — how???” wrote one frustrated fan, echoing a sentiment shared by many. Sykes was widely considered a frontrunner heading into the All-Star announcements and has arguably had a greater overall impact than both rookies. She leads the Mystics in scoring with 17.9 points per game, tops the team in assists with 4.6, and is tied for the lead in steals at 1.1 per game.
Even veteran forward Dearica Hamby weighed in, backing Sykes with a pointed message: “Whatever about me… but taking two, and NOT including the best player from a below .500 team is crazy.” Hamby was also one of the front-runners to get a reserved seat. Hamby’s statistics warrant strong consideration, averaging 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, besides being an All-Star three times previously. However, the disappointing team display of Sparks led her not to be selected.
“B. Sykes averaging 17.9 points per game btw, 3 rookies in the All-Star Game sounds cool tho. I guess it’s better for business,” a comment read, capturing a sentiment shared widely across social media. While Sykes had a compelling case built on performance and leadership, her exclusion has fueled the belief that the league is leaning more toward marketability and media-driven narratives than on-court merit. The All-Star reserves were chosen by coaches, not fans or media, which does lend credibility to the selections. However, it is hard to ignore the growing influence of public buzz and media spotlight. In today’s game, even coaches may not be entirely immune to the sway of hype.
“Kiki and Sonia shouldn’t be there. Paige should be off the bench.” Wrote another fan. Now this is an unpopular take. Kiki and Sonia’s exclusion remains controversial, but Bueckers was considered an undisputed starter. She is carrying Dallas on her shoulders with 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Granted, their team performance hasn’t been on par, so an argument parallel to Hamby for her exclusion. Though the arguments are pretty subjective, the popular opinion stands with Bueckers.
May 16, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts against the Minnesota Lynx during the first half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The 2025 WNBA All-Star selections have delivered both excitement and controversy. While Paige Bueckers’ inclusion as a starter has been met with widespread approval, the addition of rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen as reserves has stirred debate. Their impressive individual numbers and key roles in Washington’s unexpected playoff push made a strong case, yet critics argue that proven stars like Brittney Sykes and Dearica Hamby were more deserving.
At the heart of the debate lies a deeper tension between performance and popularity, merit and marketability. With coaches selecting the reserves, credibility remains intact, but it is clear that public perception and media narratives continue to shape the All-Star conversation.
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