"Had each other to lean on" - Sonia Citron gets candid about special relationship with Kiki Iriafen on young Mystics team

Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are two of the best rookies in the league right now, and if not for Paige Bueckers, either of them would have been a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award.

Citron and Iriafen have single-handedly dragged the Washington Mystics out of mediocrity. Although they are out of playoff contention this season, the Mystics have a promising future with their new rookie duo leading the way.

The Mystics are holding the 10th place on the standings with a 16-25 record. Both the Washington rookies earned All-Star selection and played in the All-Star game this season.

On Thursday, Sonia Citron sat down with Sportskeeda's Mark Medina for an exclusive interview where she talked about her rookie season, her All-Star experience and more. During one segment of the interview, Citron talked about her relationship with Kiki Iriafen.

"We’re both in very similar positions. So to be able to go through this season together has been helpful," she told Sportskeeda.

"Oftentimes, we were going through the same things and the same struggles. So we had each other to lean on. I could talk to her and let her know how I feel, and she probably would understand and make me feel better in any kind of way. She was someone to talk to that really understands."

The Washington rookie revealed that she and Iriafen have grown close in their rookie season, as they both were able to help each other out during their struggles. Citron averaged 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while Iriafen averaged 13.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 assist per game this season.

"Doesn’t matter how they guard her": Kiki Iriafen speaks highly of Sonia Citron's season

As Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen grew close, traversing their rookie season together, their respect for each other grew even further. It wasn't just Citron who spoke highly of her fellow rookie teammate.

On Wednesday, Sporstkeeda's Mark Media published an exclusive interview with Kiki Iriafen, where the rookie forward expressed her thoughts on Sonia Citron's season.

"She’s incredible. She’s consistent night in and night out. It doesn’t matter how they guard her or however she is playing. She’s always the same. She’s a huge key for our team. She’s a great person even outside of all of that," Iriafen told Sportskeeda.

Later, Medina asked the Mystics forward to share her thoughts on Citron as a teammate, and Iriafen said similar things as her rookie teammate. She described Citron as supportive and helpful in navigating their first season together.