The 2025 WNBA Draft class introduced a new round of elite rookies to the league. UConn graduate Paige Bueckers was drafted at the No. 1 overall spot, and was joined by Dominique Malonga, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Juste Jocyte in the top five. Malonga and Iriafen have gone on to have strong seasons with the Storm and Mystics, respectively, and Jocyte opted against joining the Valkyries in San Francisco this year.
But when it comes to crowning a Rookie of the Year, at this point there are two clear options: Bueckers and Citron, who have been waging impressive battles against one another.
Bueckers came into the 2025 season very nearly as the presumptive ROY, but Citron has steadily chipped away at that claim ever since. And while it's still exceedingly likely Bueckers will win the award, whether or not that vote is unanimous remains to be seen.
Sonia Citron put on a show against Paige Bueckers Sunday
Bueckers is leading the march toward ROY in terms of stats; the Wings star is currently averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game so far this season (Citron is averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists). But plenty of people — including Dallas' coach Chris Koclanes — have noticed the Mystics star is giving Bueckers a run for her money.
Chris Koclanes spoke on Paige Bueckers not being as involved on the offensive end of the floor down the stretch.
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) August 10, 2025
Bueckers, for her part, did not use her back issue as an excuse. #wingsup #wnba @Winsidr pic.twitter.com/zosENnezKC
While speaking to reporters following the Wings' 91-78 loss to the Mystics Sunday, Koclanes admitted Washington was "aggressive" with Bueckers before he later added, "Citron top-blocking and just being really physical makes it really hard for her to get touches."
Citron notably racked up 18 points, five rebounds, and six assists — her eighth double-digit game in a row — during the match.
The performance prompted a strong response from fans, many of whom were ready to crown Citron Rookie of the Year that night. Fans have also appreciated Citron's ability to lock in late in a game and deliver results the Mystics need right when they need them, which are exactly the kind of qualities you want in any professional basketball player.
Of course, it should be noted Bueckers was coming off injury (she pulled a muscle during the Wings' loss to the Liberty last week) and is also regularly double-teamed anytime she has the ball, two factors that might have helped Citron navigate the game effectively. Still, there's no denying that Citron is certainly a shadow looming over Bueckers' season-long performance, and could prove to be a credible threat by the time September rolls around.