Mystics’ Sonia Citron makes Unrivaled decision to cap historic rookie year originally appeared on The Sporting News
Despite a surprise playoff push with a young group, the Washington Mystics ended the 2025 WNBA season on a 10-game losing streak. But that doesn’t mean that the future is any dimmer in the nation’s capital.
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Two of the Mystics’ top picks in the 2025 draft already have blossomed into core pieces, as guard Sonia Citron (third overall pick) and forward Kiki Iriafen (fifth) were named All-Stars in their rookie seasons. Guard Georgia Amoore, the sixth pick, missed the entire season through injury but is expected to be ready to go for 2026.
Citron’s season in particular gives Mystics fans the most encouragement as to what their team can achieve in the years ahead. Citron, a former star guard at Notre Dame, broke franchise records for points and 3-pointers in a season. She is one of three rookies in WNBA history to score at least 650 points and boast a true shooting percentage north of 55 percent. The others? Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.
MORE: Mystics’ Sonia Citron just shattered another of Caitlin Clark’s records
While Citron’s stellar rookie season probably will not end with a Rookie of the Year award, she will “most likely” have the chance to play in Unrivaled, the fast-growing 3-on-3 offseason league that debuted to rave reviews earlier this year.
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Citron on Wednesday confirmed to reporters that she has been in touch with Unrivaled, which was founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier in 2023; Alex Bazzell, Collier’s husband, serves as the league’s president.
Unrivaled has gained more legitimacy as a domestic competitor to the WNBA, as collective bargaining negotiations with the players’ union remain blocked — and as Unrivaled continues to court big-name investors, such as NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry and Trae Young. Newly-inducted Basketball Hall of Fame Carmelo Anthony was an initial investor, along with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and tennis star Coco Gauff.
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