Sure, Washington didn’t have the top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. But they are making a good first impression one year before a critical offseason.
The Washington Mystics have opened the 2025 WNBA season with a promising 2-0 record, signaling a potential resurgence under new head coach Sydney Johnson. After a 94-90 victory over the Atlanta Dream, the Mystics secured a 90-85 comeback win against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, overcoming an early 15-point deficit.
Veteran guard Brittney Sykes has been instrumental, averaging 24.5 points over the two games. However, it’s the rookies who are making headlines. Third overall pick Sonia Citron has delivered consistently, scoring 19 points in her debut and adding 15 in the second game, shooting an impressive 64.7 percent from the field. Fourth pick Kiki Iriafen has also impressed, averaging 15.5 points and 9 rebounds per game, including a standout 17-point, 14-rebound performance against the Sun.
While it’s early in the season, the contributions from Citron and Iriafen suggest a brighter future for the Mystics than fans expected before the season. That matters because of the 2026 free agency bonanza that’s less than a year away. Their next challenge is against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. And Washington will have a good chance to start out the 2025 season with a 3-0 record.