Paige Bueckers Bolsters Impressive Argument for WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
In the thrilling race for the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, Paige Bueckers continues to lead the pack with her impressive all-around stats. However, the competition is heating up as the season nears its end, with Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics making a late surge.
Last night, Citron scored 18 points in 32 minutes against Dallas, adding 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and a steal to her tally. This performance marks her sixth straight game scoring at least 17 points, a streak that has positioned her as the top challenger to Bueckers' lead.
Bueckers, despite missing a game due to a back injury, returned to form against Washington, logging 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 32 minutes. The Dallas Wings' rookie has been a consistent bright spot for the struggling team, extending her streak of double-digit scoring games to 25, the longest active run in the league.
Citron's offensive performances have been particularly noteworthy. Over the past six games, she has averaged 19.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.3 threes per game. In her last two outings, she has shot an impressive 72.7% from the field.
Kiki Iriafen, another rookie standout, has provided the Mystics with 12.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this season. In August, Iriafen has been even more impactful, averaging 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals in four games. Iriafen's strong performance was on display in Sunday's game against Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, where she scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, adding 1 assist.
Despite the strong performances from Citron and Iriafen, Bueckers' season-long dominance and her ability to lead her team's offense night after night have yet to be matched by either rookie. For the season, Bueckers is averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. She has yet to score fewer than 10 points in any contest this season, a level of reliability unmatched by any player.
Bueckers has also made history, becoming the fastest rookie in WNBA history to reach 450+ points, 100+ rebounds, and 100+ assists in just her 25th career game. With her consistent performances and the tightening race, Bueckers is on pace to secure the Rookie of the Year award and may complete one of the most statistically dominant first seasons in league history.
In other news, legendary player Diana Taurasi believes Caitlin Clark should receive the next WNBA signature shoe.
As the season winds down, the Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. Stay tuned for updates as the competition heats up!
- With her consistent scoring in recent games, Sonia Citron has emerged as a strong challenger to Paige Bueckers for the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
- Sonia Citron's impressive field goal percentage of 72.7% in her last two outings demonstrates her proficiency in basketball.
- Kiki Iriafen's strong performances in August have boosted her standing in the WNBA, making her a significant contender alongside Citron.
- Despite the increasing competition, Paige Bueckers' dominant performances have yet to be matched by any player in the league, making her a frontrunner for the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
