"Nah they did her so dirty": WNBA fans in stitches after Kiki Iriafen's head knot injury draws comical reactions from Sonia Citron and others

Washington Mystics star Kiki Iriafen drew a foul against Connecticut Sun forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa late in the second quarter on Thursday. The hit prompted the rookie to bend over. Once she stood up, Mystics teammate Stefanie Dolson could not hold back in surprise at the bump on Iriafen’s forehead.

Sonia Citron, after checking on her teammate, could only smile at the knot. Sun rookie Saniya Rivers also poked fun at the Mystics' All-Star forward.

Fans quickly reacted to Kiki Iriaften getting all the jokes:

“nah they did her so dirty omg that KNOT.”

One fan said:

Another fan added:

One more fan continued:

Another fan reacted:

Iriafen knew the foul was not intentional. She calmly went to the free-throw line for two attempts. She went 1-for-2 to help the Mystics end the first half trailing by 33-26. Iriafen contributed nine points, four rebounds, and one block in the opening two quarters.

After getting treatment at halftime, the former USC Trojans star returned to start the second half. Iriafen, who anchored Washington’s defense, made her first basket near the end of the period. She converted a layup off a Lucy Olsen pass.

Despite the knot on the head, she continued to play well for her team, which entered the fourth quarter facing a 56-45 deficit.

Kiki Iriafen makes history despite costly loss by Mystics to Sun

Kiki Iriafen needed only one point and one rebound to make Washington Mystics history. After making a layup late in the third quarter, the team announced on X (formerly Twitter):

“With 11 points, 8 rebounds so far in tonight's game, Kiki Iriafen has totaled her 25th 10 point, 5 rebound game.

“She is now tied with Chamique Holdsclaw for the most amount by a Mystics rookie in franchise history.”

Iriafen finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Mystics’ 67-56 loss. Washington tried to turn the game around, but turnovers and inefficient shotmaking allowed the home team to defend its home court.

The loss to the Connecticut Sun, which owns the worst record in the WNBA, could prove costly down the stretch. Washington (16-20), which is 10th in the standings, hoped to gain ground on the No. 8-ranked Seattle Storm (18-18) for a playoff spot.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero