Caitlin Clark was a shoo-in for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award last season, but the running for the 2025 edition has emerged as a three-woman race that includes a pair of teammates as All-Star weekend approaches.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron and Mystics center Kiki Iriafen have emerged as early favorites to hoist the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year trophy after getting off to hot starts in their freshman campaign. The race is tight and will likely come down to the wire, but how would the top three shake out if the award was given out today?
Let’s take a look at where each novice lands on USA TODAY Sports’ WNBA rookie power rankings:
1. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
2025 stats: 18.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.8 spg, 46.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 87.0% FT (13 games)
2. Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics
2025 stats: 13.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 47.6% FG, 76.6% FT (16 games)
The Washington Mystics blew up everything ahead of the 2025 season and the risk has paid off. New general manager Jamila Wideman and head coach Sydney Johnson took a step toward rebuilding their future with first-round picks Kiki Iriafen (No. 5 overall) and Sonia Citron (No. 3 overall). The dynamic duo currently has the Mystics sitting at .500 on the season, one year removed from finishing with a 14-26 record. Iriafen is on a roll and became the first Mystics player in franchise history to win the Rookie of the Month honor in May. She leads all rookies in rebounds (8.8) and ranks third in scoring (13.2). Iriafen has five double-doubles through 16 games, including four consecutive double-doubles in her first five career games. The rest of the rookies have a combined four.
3. Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
2025 stats: 14.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 47.6% FG, 76.6% FT (16 games)
Sonia Citron is calm, cool and collected on both sides of the ball and has been pivotal in the Mystics’ turnaround. Among rookies, Citron is second in the league in scoring (14.6) and minutes (32.9) per game behind Bueckers and has scored double-digit points in all but one game this season. When she’s not knocking down game-winning shots — including her go-ahead three in the Mystics’ overtime win over the Wings on June 22 and a pair of clutch free throws to ice Washington’s win over the Lynx on June 24 — Citron is guarding multiple positions. Iriafen and Citron perfectly complement each other and look to lead the Mystics to the postseason for the first time since 2023.
Honorable mentions
Monique Akoa Makani, Phoenix Mercury: 8.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 48.3% FG, 44.7% 3PT, 100.0% FT (14 games)
The Mercury has emerged as one of the top teams in the league and has won five consecutive games. Akoa Makani has started all 15 games this season and is a perfect 100% from the free-throw line (18 attempts). She dropped a career-high 21 points in the Mercury’s win over the New York Liberty on June 19.
Te-Hina Paopao, Atlanta Dream: 6.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 52.4% FG, 50.0% 3PT, 85.7% FT (15 games)
Paopao leads the rookies in three-point percentage, shooting 52.6% from beyond the arc. In the Dream’s 93-80 win over the Chicago Sky on June 22, Paopao exploded for a career-high five threes.
2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year odds
Here’s the latest odds from BetMGM, as of Friday:
Paige Bueckers (-1400)
Sonia Citron (+2000)
Kiki Iriafen (+1000)
Aneesah Morrow (+15000)
Hailey Van Lith (+25000)
Saniya Rivers (+25000)
Te-Hina Paopao (+20000)
Dominique Malonga (+25000)
Janelle Salaun (+20000)
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
