Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and Washington Mystics forwards Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have all been named 2025 WNBA All-Stars, marking simply the fourth time since 2000 that three or extra first-year gamers have earned the honour in the identical season. It’s the league’s first rookie trio to achieve All-Star standing since 2011.
Bueckers will begin within the July 19 showcase in Indianapolis after ending as the best vote-getter throughout fan, participant and media voting. Iriafen and Citron had been chosen as reserves, incomes recognition from WNBA coaches for his or her early-season manufacturing and poise.
Bueckers Leads Pack With All-Star Starter Choice
The highest decide in April’s draft, Bueckers has wasted no time establishing herself as one of many league’s most full guards. She’s averaging 18.7 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists throughout her first 14 video games whereas capturing 47.5% from the ground, 34.8% from past the arc, and 86.7% on free throws.
The 6-foot guard has introduced scoring punch, playmaking, and management to a Dallas Wings group that has confronted intensive damage challenges. She’s already tallied seven video games with at the very least 20 factors, together with a 23-point, five-assist efficiency in a win over the Phoenix Mercury final week.
Bueckers was one in every of 10 gamers named All-Star starters by means of the league’s weighted voting format, which is break up between followers (50%), present gamers (25%), and media members (25%). Regardless of being a rookie, she completed with the best composite rating amongst all candidates.
“It means so much,” Bueckers stated. “I really feel like I’ve lots of people who go to bat for me. To have individuals who actually know and perceive the sport respect what I do, that’s significant.”
Bueckers has confronted intense scrutiny relationship again to her adorned highschool and school careers, however she’s remained grounded in her first skilled season. Requested whether or not the All-Star nod validated her rise, she deflected.
“I don’t dwell by anyone else’s expectations or what I’m alleged to appear like,” she stated. “I am going on the market and play each single recreation and possession for what it’s. The outcomes could range, and no matter they appear like on any given evening, I dwell with them.”
Her perspective, she says, comes from intentional work on the psychological facet of the sport—staying within the second, specializing in the method, and blocking out outdoors noise.
“A variety of psychological work—framing my ideas and perspective on basketball and life,” she stated. “Working my very own race and never trying to the facet to see what anybody else is doing. Simply being the place my toes are.”
Mystics Duo Turns Early Momentum Into All-Star Recognition
The Washington Mystics is probably not among the many league’s prime groups within the standings, however their rebuild has already yielded star energy. Iriafen and Citron, drafted third and fourth general respectively, had been every named to the All-Star Sport as reserves.
Iriafen has emerged as probably the most productive frontcourt gamers within the WNBA. She is averaging 12.3 factors, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per recreation whereas capturing 45.9 % from the sector and 78.6 % from the free-throw line. With a powerful rebounding motor and gentle contact across the rim, she’s made an immediate affect within the Mystics’ offense whereas holding her personal defensively in opposition to veteran posts. Her All-Star choice caps off a robust first half that exceeded even her personal expectations.
“Not likely feeling assured in myself in coming to this degree,” Iriafen stated. “So to have success early, it was undoubtedly one thing that I used to be pleased with myself for form of overcoming that. However seeing myself now and being an All-Star, it doesn’t even sound actual popping out of my mouth.”
Citron, a refined and cerebral guard from Notre Dame, has confirmed equally priceless in Washington’s rotation. She is averaging 14.6 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.1 minutes per recreation. Her capability to protect a number of positions, hit well timed photographs, and function as a secondary playmaker has made her a favourite amongst coaches league-wide.
Historic Second for Rookie Class
The final time three or extra rookies made the WNBA All-Star Sport was in 2011, when Maya Moore, Courtney Vandersloot and Liz Cambage all debuted on the nationwide stage. Earlier than that, it solely occurred in 2009 and 2002. In a league the place expertise usually defines rotations, the emergence of Bueckers, Iriafen and Citron indicators a continued altering of the guard.
They’ll take the ground at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the place the 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport shall be held on July 19. The format will function group captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier choosing from the pool of starters and reserves in a televised draft on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN’s WNBA Countdown.
First-time All-Stars this 12 months additionally embrace veterans Kayla Thornton (Golden State) and Gabby Williams (Seattle). Among the many reserves are Skylar Diggins, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Younger, Rhyne Howard, Kelsey Mitchell, Angel Reese and Courtney Williams. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will identify a alternative for any participant unable to take part.
However all eyes shall be on the three rookies breaking custom—and setting the stage for a future the place first-year gamers now not wait their flip.
