Brittney Sykes and Sonia Citron also made the Top 40 in first returns.
The first round of WNBA All-Star fan voting is in, and the Washington Mystics have something to celebrate. Rookie forward Kiki Iriafen came in at No. 10 overall among frontcourt players, a stunning debut for the first-year standout who has quickly become a key contributor for D.C. She earned over 213,000 votes—putting her ahead of established veterans and solidifying her early case for an All-Star selection.
But Iriafen isn’t the only Mystic earning fan attention. Teammates Brittney Sykes (28th) and rookie Sonia Citron (35th) also cracked the top 40 in total votes. Sykes, one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders, continues to draw praise for her leadership on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, Citron has made an instant impact with her high-IQ play and versatility, helping the Mystics stay competitive through a rebuilding season.
As expected, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever leads all vote-getters with 515,993 votes, far ahead of the pack. Napheesa Collier, Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart round out the top five—no surprises there. But the presence of a Mystics rookie in the top 10 is a signal that D.C.’s youth movement is resonating with fans beyond just the local area.
Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of All-Star starter selections, with WNBA players and media each contributing 25 percent in the “WNBA Electoral College”. This is done, partly to avoid fan favorites who are otherwise … mediocre players … from being in the All-Star Game. Given Iriafen’s play this season, it’s a toss up as to whether she will earn an All-Star appearance as a rookie given how good frontcourt stars are in the WNBA, but it’s possible.
I don’t see Citron making the All-Star Game due to the talent level of guards in the WNBA —and this is with Citron playing at a high level itslef. And Sykes should be on track to make the team as a reserve, even if she doesn’t have fan voting power.
Anyway, Voting closes on June 28, with two double-vote days remaining on June 21 and June 27.
For the Mystics, the takeaway is clear: despite a rebuilding season, the team’s future is bright due to their rookie production and Sykes leading as a veteran star. The All-Star Game itself is on Saturday, July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis.