Paige Bueckers has had a rough debut season. “You kind of know that it’s different coming in, but you don’t really know how much it is until you actually live it,” she said. Riding off 4 early losses this season, Dallas managed to bag a win against the Sun. In the next game itself, their rookie sensation took a hit that sidelined her for 4 straight games due to concussion protocol. Then two straight losses marked her much-awaited return.
Just as they were getting ready to pull out a hat-trick, Mystics’ offensive rebounding crushed that dream. They bounced back as a squad, but just 2 games later, a knee injury has sidelined Bueckers again. At this point, it’s fair to wonder if she is still leading the Rookie of the Year conversation. Or have Sonia Citron and KiKi Iriafen of the Mystics surged ahead? We’ve had to revisit that narrative in the past, more than once.
However, all the wondering and anticipation end right here. With the WNBA releasing its head of the class, Paige Bueckers is leading. With 18.4 PPG, 6.4 APG, she is way ahead of the second prospect, Sonia Citron (14.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG). Even Paige Bueckers’ coach Chris Koclanes’ praise for Sonia Citron in the post-game presser seemed weak in front of those stats.
no competition Paige Bueckers ROTY pic.twitter.com/TThOTWmWs4
— jo (@thearkvi) June 29, 2025
He said, “She’s got it all. Just really impressed with her IQ and the speed at which she plays…she can score at all 3 levels and plays at her own tempo…she doesn’t get sped up & the fact she’s a two way player. They’ve got a really good one in Sonia.” It’s true, after all, she was the 27-point driving force behind Wings’ loss to Mystics on 23rd June.
However, Koclanes’ praise and Sonia’s victory game is still not enough to overtake Paige Bueckers in the race to ROTY. Neither was Phillipou’s analysis. “Heading into the season, Paige Bueckers was the unanimous prediction for rookie of the year,” Philippou wrote. Right before naming Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics as two fellow rookies who could give Bueckers a run for her money in the ROTY race. But here’s why yours, ours, and Philippou’s curiosity was completely justified…
Paige Bueckers and Contestants for the race to ROTY
The 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year race is heating up, and three players have clearly pulled ahead of the pack. They are Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and the Washington Mystics’ duo of Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. What makes them stand out?
Bueckers, the top pick in the 2025 draft, has lived up to expectations despite Dallas’s slow start. She is leading all the rookies in scoring (18.4 PPG), assists (5.8 APG), steals (1.8 SPG), and minutes (35.6 MPG) while shooting 46.1% from the field. Even after missing four games due to concussion protocol, she returned with a bang. There, she dropped a career-high 35 points against the Phoenix Mercury on June 11. She also made history as the fastest player ever to reach 200 points and 50 assists in just 11 games. With the Bueckers-Arike Ogunbowale duo, the Wings have shown the potential of turning their early struggles into a potential late-season push.
Whereas, Kiki Iriafen, the Mystics’ No. 5 pick, has also been a game-changer for Washington. Through 16 games, she’s averaging 13.2 points and a rookie-best 8.8 rebounds per game. She made franchise history as the first Mystics player to win Rookie of the Month in May. She is even leading all rookies with five double-doubles, four of which came in her first five games. Her dominance in the paint has been key in lifting Washington to a .500 record after last year’s 14-26 finish. Iriafen has been the foundation of what’s shaping up to be one of the league’s most impressive rookie-led turnarounds.
Don’t forget Sonia Citron, who was drafted third overall. She completes the Mystics’ standout rookie pair with equally impressive numbers. She’s averaging 14.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. This puts her second among rookies in scoring and minutes (32.9 MPG) behind only Bueckers. Her versatility has also made her a clutch performer, like when she hit the game-winning three in overtime against Dallas on June 22 or sealed a win over Minnesota with late free throws on June 24. Defensively, she guards multiple positions without sacrificing offensive efficiency. Alongside Iriafen, she’s helping push the Mystics toward their first playoff berth since 2023.
This year’s Rookie of the Year race is going to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory. It’s too close to call, and only getting tighter. Stay tuned, because every game could tip the balance.
The post Sonia Citron’s Performance Earns High Praise From Wings HC But Not Enough To Close Gap On Paige Bueckers appeared first on EssentiallySports.