Despite missing the playoffs, 2025 was a big season for Mystics fans. Kiki Iriafen was one of the main reasons. The rookie took the league by storm. She averaged 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds and secured her first All-Star nod. Now, she is also playing very well in Unrivaled, putting up 11 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Phantom in just 9.8 minutes per game.
At only 22, Iriafen is just scratching the surface. One thing she needs to work on is not rushing in games and turning the ball over. It happened to her twice in the Phantom’s most recent game against the Lunar Owls.
After the second turnover—a travel when she was attacking the rim—Lisa Leslie said on the broadcast, “Iriafen’s going to have to work on that. Just gets a little too excited and moves both her feet.”
Fortunately, Leslie is the perfect person to help Iriafen become more patient and intentional with every single movement.
Lisa Leslie has been a great presence in Miami
Leslie is primarily in Miami to call games, but the three-time MVP and two-time DPOY does much more than just that. She has made it her mission to work with players in Miami and help the next generation be the best players they can be. Last season, she helped Angel Reese noticeably improve her efficiency around the basket.
This season, she has already worked out with Dominique Malonga, Cameron Brink, and Shakira Austin. Earlier this month, Iriafen said that she would get to work with Leslie next.
It will be a great opportunity for Iriafen to pick Leslie’s mind. The former Sparks star is one of the best bigs to ever play in the WNBA. Iriafen is part of the next generation of great forwards, so Leslie should have plenty of wisdom and little tips to share with her.
Unrivaled should be great for Iriafen’s development
After just a season and a half, Unrivaled already has a reputation for helping players improve and add skills to their bags. Azurá Stevens, for example, left Miami as a much-improved 3-point shooter last year.
Iriafen isn’t playing a whole lot, as she is coming off the bench behind Aliyah Boston. But Iriafen doesn’t need a ton of minutes to impact a game. When the Phantom got revenge on the Breeze in Philadelphia, she scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in just 9.6 minutes. Plus, being on a team with Boston should be great for Iriafen. Boston is everything she should aspire to be: a multi-time All-Star, an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team member, and one of the best players on a potential championship contender.
Most importantly, Unrivaled allows Iriafen to work in the paint with plenty of space around her. More space allows Iriafen to try moves she might not have been able to pull off in the W, especially with the Mystics’ poor spacing.
Between playing with Boston, working with Leslie, and playing against some of the best players in the game, Iriafen should return to the Mystics even better than she was as a rookie. Sonia Citron and Shakira Austin are also playing in Unrivaled, promising a fun season in Washington.