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With Paige Bueckers out with a concussion, Kiki Iriafen now leads the race for the Rookie of the Year Award. Almost every other league honor has a defined favorite, but first-year players around the league have been building their case for the award. Without their first-year players, the Mystics would be near the bottom of the league, but Iriafen and Sonia Citron have given them a big offensive boost.
After four weeks of the 2025 WNBA season, Iriafen and the rest of the rookie class have a month of experience under their belt. While the transition from the collegiate game to the professional league is a big one, this year's class has players across the board who have made it almost seamlessly. .
Here are our WNBA Rookie of the Year rankings after the fourth week of the season, with Iriafen emerging as the newest front-runner.
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#1 Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics)
Iriafen has continued her hot start to the season around the basket for Washington. The 6-foot-3 forward is no longer averaging a double-double, but her efficiency around the rim has improved. In their 85-76 loss to the Indiana Fever on June 3, she scored 20 points while shooting almost 82% from the field. Having a reliable option down low gives the Mystics' offense the consistency it needs.
#2 Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings)
Bueckers slipping down one spot this week simply has to do with the fact that she has not played since May 29. Her absence has been felt by the Wings, who are 0-4 without the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft. The team is optimistic that she will return this week, but she has ground to make up in order to surpass Iriafen once again.
#3 Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics)
For the third week in a row, Citron sits in third in the race for Rookie of the Year. While she is not as big a name as Iriafen or Bueckers are, Citron's impact is felt just as much by her team. Playing alongside Brittney Sykes in the Mystics' backcourt has helped cover her defensive shortcomings, and her 37.5% from 3-point range has helped Washington stay in the playoff hunt.
#4 Lexi Held (Phoenix Mercury)
After going undrafted, Held fought and earned a spot with the Mercury. The former DePaul standout has stepped up in Alyssa Thomas' absence. Held has done well in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup so far, scoring at least 14 points in three of the four in-season tournament games including a career-high 24 against the Golden State Valkyries.
#5 Janelle Salaun
When the WNBA season began, the Valkyries were expected to struggle in their first season of existence. Salaun is a big part of the team's early success, still averaging double figures, including a career-high 21 points against the Los Angeles Sparks in an 89-81 overtime win on Monday. Her 40% shooting from deep is second on the team as Golden State continues to put the league on notice.
