One is a soft-spoken sharpshooter. The other is the face of a new generation of American basketball. Together, Sonia Citron and Paige Bueckers are forming one of Team USA’s most intriguing new partnerships and Citron just opened up about why their connection works so seamlessly.
With the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers approaching in Puerto Rico, the United States already has its spot secured for the 2026 tournament in Berlin. But the event will serve as a proving ground for fresh combinations of veterans and newcomers, including the budding backcourt duo currently building chemistry in Unrivaled Basketball.
Advertisement
Speaking after Hive BC’s loss to Mist BC, Sonia Citron talked about Paige Bueckers and how the two 2025 WNBA Draft picks are getting along off the court while also pushing each other to be better on it. “Paige is an amazing person. I would definitely say that Unrivaled has just brought us closer. You know, we’ve been hanging out and just getting to know each other.”
She added, “I think she’s kind of just the extrovert that brings me out of the house, you know, like… she’s just a very fun person to be around. So, I would definitely agree with her and just say that we push each other, but at the same time, we’re rooting for each other, too.”
Paige Bueckers has also mentioned Sonia Citron as a player she has gotten along well with in Unrivaled stating it as “real connections,” apart from her teammates in Breeze BC.
Bueckers has been a colossal hit for the Dallas Wings, grabbing headlines with her performances. The UConn graduate made it to the All-WNBA 2nd team and also earned the Rookie of the Year award.
May 30, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (22) shoots the ball as New York Liberty guard Rebekah Gardner (7) defends in the second half at CareFirst Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Citron’s three-point shooting has taken everyone by surprise. Averaging an accuracy of 44.5% in three-pointers, Citron became a focal point of the Mystics’ offense from the get-go. The 22-year-old also earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team for 2025 alongside Bueckers, franchise teammate Kiki Iriafen, Dominique Malonga, and Janelle Salaun.
Advertisement
The two players could be seen together in future USA Basketball duties, including potential appearances at the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers for the United States National Team, and it will be interesting to see how their off-court chemistry can translate into something quantifiable on the court.
Citron and Bueckers’ budding bond also echoes one of the WNBA’s most famous friendships between rivals: Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird.
For nearly two decades, Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury and Bird’s Seattle Storm battled each other in the Western Conference while the two guards remained inseparable off the court, winning multiple Olympic gold medals together for Team USA and openly embracing the “best friends who still want to beat each other” dynamic.
That kind of competitive friendship is the blueprint for what Citron and Bueckers are starting to build as they sharpen each other’s games in Unrivaled and eye future USA Basketball runs.
Advertisement
Sonia Citron is hoping to learn from Brittney Sykes’ work ethic
The 22-year-old Mystics guard has had a whirlwind of a year. From college to the draft to the season and then to now playing Unrivaled during the offseason, Sonia Citron has hardly had any time to soak it all in. In Unrivaled, the shooting guard has been slowly learning about other players, and named Brittney Sykes as a veteran she has been observing closely.
Citron highlighted her admiration for Sykes and her work ethic apart from the game, and her obsession with continuing to work on her body and the game during training. Sonia Citron and Brittney Sykes had a brief period together in Washington.
Soon after Citron arrived in the Washington Mystics after being drafted 3rd, Sykes was dealt to the Seattle Storm in a trade that brought veteran Alysha Clark and future draft capital to Washington.
Advertisement
In fact, Citron surpassed Sykes’ mark to set the Mystics’ single‑season scoring record, finishing her rookie year with 657 points. Sykes is a veteran who does not give up easily, and that is exactly what Citron showcased in the defeat against Mist BC.
After an abysmal shooting performance in the first half, Citron came back strongly before ending the game with an 8-of-16 shooting performance that helped her get 17 points on the board.
The 22-year-old is part of a young Washington Mystics squad and would hope to use the experience and learning gained in Unrivaled into the 2026 WNBA season.
