We’re just below two months into the WNBA season, and the Rookie of the 12 months race is way extra aggressive than initially anticipated.
Paige Bueckers has carried out as virtually everybody anticipated, whereas the Nos. 3 (Sonia Citron) and 4 (Kiki Iriafen) picks have led the Washington Mystics to a surprisingly good begin. They don’t seem to be the one first-year gamers making a mark within the league.
A handful of younger gamers on this electrical rookie class are having sudden breakouts. This group contains latest faculty graduates and gamers signed from abroad. Listed below are ESPN’s rankings for the highest eight rookies up to now — plus a check-in on two extra.
Simply earlier than the WNBA draft, a basic supervisor instructed ESPN that Bueckers may “impression the league instantly” and “be harmful immediately.” Up to now, Bueckers has confirmed them proper.
This 12 months’s No. 1 choose has demonstrated the identical three-level scoring abilities, effectivity, court docket imaginative and prescient and talent to manage the tempo of a recreation she showcased on her approach to profitable a nationwide title with UConn in April.
She additionally leads the rookies in scoring (17.7 factors per recreation) and assists (5.8) regardless of having missed 4 video games whereas in concussion protocol and due to an sickness. In that interval, Kiki Iriafen overtook her as the favorite to win Rookie of the 12 months, although Bueckers has since reclaimed the spot.
That mentioned, Bueckers’ sturdy play hasn’t instantly led to teamwide success. The Wings are off to a 4-12 begin, receiving the worst grade in ESPN’s one-month check-in. It is arduous to place a whole franchise’s success on the shoulders of a 22-year-old rookie, however Bueckers has, up to now, lived as much as the hype.
2. Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics, ahead
The No. 4 choose, Iriafen briefly catapulted to the highest of the Rookie of the 12 months race by main the Mystics to a 4-6 begin — sudden for a staff getting into a rebuilding period.
In 15 video games, she’s averaging 13.3 factors on practically 50% capturing — the third-most factors by a rookie and the third-best capturing proportion by a rookie enjoying at the very least 12 minutes this season.
Her physicality and rebounding set her aside from the remainder of the rookie class, too: She’s grabbing 8.8 rebounds (finest within the group) and has recorded 5 double-doubles, together with 4 consecutive in Might.
Throughout her single season at USC, Iriafen took a backseat on scoring subsequent to famous person JuJu Watkins. However within the W, she has displayed a capability to attain in quite a lot of methods — whether or not it is within the midrange, by forcing her manner into the paint or crashing the offensive glass.
However past the statistics, Iriafen has helped set an identification for the Mystics. Washington coach Sydney Johnson mentioned Iriafen has a “veteran mindset” and has stabilized the staff’s frontcourt.
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Sonia Citron finds Kiki Iriafen in transition for 2
Sonia Citron finds Kiki Iriafen in transition for 2
3. Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics, guard
Citron has been proper alongside Iriafen in ushering in Washington’s new period. She has been the proper counterpart for Iriafen, averaging 14.2 factors on 47.1% capturing. She’s additionally a dependable multiple-position defender, with the power to change roles at any time when her staff wants.
Throughout her 4 years at Notre Dame, Citron established herself as a three-level scorer, averaging 14.3 factors, 5.8 rebounds and a couple of.5 assists per recreation whereas capturing 37% from deep. Her capturing precision prolonged to the midrange, and he or she had the power to chop to the basket and end on the rim. Up to now, it is translated to the professionals.
That scoring was one thing the Mystics wanted after they obtained the third choose — and her — after buying and selling Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky. It is rather a lot to count on a rookie to match the manufacturing of a seven-year veteran, however Citron has confirmed she’s as much as the duty up to now.
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Sonia Citron’s clutch OT 3 proves to be winner for Mystics
Rookie Sonia Citron drills her fourth 3-pointer of the sport to offer the Mystics the lead for good.
After going undrafted in 2022 and spending the previous three years enjoying in Australia, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Sweden, Held has emerged as one of many brightest WNBA newcomers. Teammate Satou Sabally even recommended Held may make a case for rookie of the 12 months.
Regardless of not beginning a recreation for Phoenix (but), Held was essential for the staff whereas Kahleah Copper missed the primary 11 video games of the season with a knee damage. Throughout that span, Held averaged 9.5 factors in 21.5 minutes, making her the staff’s third-leading scorer behind Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. On the season, she has the fourth-best defensive ranking amongst rookies who play at the very least 12 minutes per recreation, at 92.4.
Final week, after ending with 16 factors, 3 assists and three steals in a loss to the Minnesota Lynx, Held scored a career-high 24 factors in a win towards the Golden State Valkyries on 7-of-15 capturing from the sector and 4-of-9 from deep. She additionally proved her worth in clutch conditions, hitting a go-ahead, step-back 3-pointer to offer Phoenix a one-point lead with simply over a minute left within the recreation.
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Lexi Held will get the bucket proper earlier than halftime
Lexi Held will get the bucket proper earlier than halftime
Akoa Makani has turn out to be the most effective long-distance shooters within the rookie class, going 44.7% from 3 — good for high 5 amongst all rookies. She can be capturing 100% from the free throw line on 18 makes an attempt.
Averaging 20.5 minutes a recreation, Akoa Makani was first inserted into the Mercury’s beginning lineup as they navigated an injury-plagued begin to the season. Even now with a wholesome roster, she has not given up her spot. Her capturing capacity (8.3 PPG) has given Phoenix supplementary scoring, an space of concern heading into the season. She additionally has the staff’s fifth-best plus-minus ranking (plus-4.4).
6. Janelle Salaun, Golden State Valkyries, guard
Salaun has had an abbreviated time in Golden State: She missed coaching camp, the preseason and the primary regular-season recreation, and has lately stepped away to characterize France at EuroBasket. However within the eight video games she has performed, she has left her mark.
She’s fourth amongst rookies in scoring (11.8 PPG) behind Bueckers, Iriafen and Citron. Salaun was additionally enjoying the third-most minutes (28.4) and grabbing the second-most rebounds per recreation (5.9).
She went undrafted in 2023 however continues to be simply 23 years previous and carries extra expertise than is conventional for a WNBA rookie. She received a silver medal with France within the Paris Olympics final summer time and in addition led Beretta Famila Schio to the Italian League title — the place she additionally received Finals MVP.
At 29 years previous, Westbeld is tied for the second-oldest rookie on this 12 months’s class. She spent many of the previous seven years enjoying in Spain, Puerto Rico, Australia, France, Italy and Hungary, with a short six-month stint as an account govt with Complete High quality Logistics in West Chester, Ohio, from January to July in 2021. This 12 months, she has cemented herself within the Mercury’s beginning rotation.
Like her rookie teammates, she was first inserted into the beginning lineup amid Phoenix’s injury-riddled starting. And like Akoa Makani, she hasn’t relinquished her spot, logging the fifth-most minutes on the staff (23.1 per recreation).
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Kathryn Westbeld sinks a triple
Kathryn Westbeld is given an excessive amount of area and knocks down a 3-pointer for the Mercury.
Paopao was a dependable shooter in faculty, going 40% from past the arc. Her dip throughout her senior 12 months at South Carolina — the place she averaged a career-low 9.4 factors — might have been a think about dropping her into the second spherical of this 12 months’s draft..
But, the No. 18 choose has been in a position to play each on and off of the ball for Atlanta and has additionally been essential for the Dream within the clutch.
Whereas her stats aren’t as eye-catching as these of the names above, Paopao’s impression has been simple. Her plus-16 web ranking and 112.2 offensive ranking are the most effective amongst rookies who’ve performed at the very least 5 video games, and he or she leads the category in 3-point capturing at 54.3%. On Sunday towards Chicago, she erupted for 5 3s on six makes an attempt.
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Te-Hina Paopao nets a triple
Te-Hina Paopao with the shot made, 06/22/2025
Two extra to look at
Malonga was probably the most intriguing prospects on this 12 months’s draft class, and her ceiling continues to be projected to be one of many highest among the many group. By the primary month and a half of the season, Malonga confirmed a few of that potential, however her expertise continues to be extraordinarily uncooked.
One purpose she hasn’t been in a position to refine her recreation within the WNBA is likely to be a scarcity of minutes, an issue the opposite rookies on this record have not needed to take care of. She’s averaging 8.7 minutes a recreation, however she’s additionally enjoying behind the most effective facilities within the league in Nneka Ogwumike.
It would take a while for Malonga — who has been enjoying worldwide basketball since 2021 and was the youngest member of the French nationwide staff on the 2024 Olympics — to get an opportunity to make an impression on the Storm, however she stays probably the most attention-grabbing newcomers to look at.
When Courtney Vandersloot went down with an ACL tear on June 8, Van Lith regarded poised to fill the veteran’s sneakers. The No. 11 draft choose continues to be coming off the bench, however her minutes load has steadily elevated over the previous two weeks and he or she even performed three consecutive 20-minute stints towards the Solar, Mystics and Mercury final week. She ought to proceed to develop as she will get extra enjoying alternatives.