Hive BC was part of Unrivaled’s first in-season trade—a move fans didn’t see coming. The team moved Saniya Rivers to the Vinyl and got Azurá Stevens from the Rose. Stevens adds some much-needed scoring and offensive versatility that Rivers didn’t offer consistently to a Hive team ranked last in points per game. It also strips the team of strong perimeter defense, though, and that will put a lot of pressure on Sonia Citron to make a big difference on that end of the floor.
River may not have her offense figured out quite yet, but she is an excellent defender who can bother some of the best guards in the league. Stevens can defend on the perimeter and switch onto guards but not at the same level as Rivers. Citron is now the only tall guard on the roster.
Kelsey Mitchell and Natisha Hiedeman are two of the smaller guards in Unrivaled
Kelsey Mitchell is an offensive cheat code. Her speed and ability to create her own shot make her almost impossible to guard, especially in the one-on-one settings created by the extra spacing in Unrivaled. That speed also helps Mitchell defensively, but she still gives up a lot of size.
Mitchell is listed at 5’8”. So is her Hive teammate Natisha Hiedeman. Only three Unrivaled players are shorter than that: Dana Evans, who has only played one game for the Phantom, Jordin Canada, and Erica Wheeler. Arike Ogunbowale, Courtney Williams, Kelsey Plum, and Sug Sutton are all listed at the same height.
So, with two small guards and three bigs on the roster, head coach Rena Wakama has to figure out how to balance the Hive’s lineups and defensive assignments. Fortunately, Stevens and Monique Billings are both versatile enough to share the court with Ezi Magbegor. Two big lineups are the easiest way to keep size on the court when Citron needs a break.
Citron has a lot of responsibilities as the youngest player on the Hive
Being a team’s focal point on both ends of the floor isn’t anything new for Citron. She played the same role for the Washington Mystics as a rookie in the WNBA. After the Mystics traded Brittney Sykes to the Storm, Citron was the team’s best perimeter defender and leading scorer. In Unrivaled, she is the Hive’s second-leading scorer, best perimeter defender, and assists leader.
Playing such an important role for two teams at a young age will only help Citron in the future. The Mystics’ goal is to build a championship contender around her, Kiki Iriafen, and their 2026 lottery pick. Being a core player on a contender comes with a lot of responsibilities.