WNBA All-Rookie Team Selections

At the conclusion of each season, five standout rookies from the WNBA are honored with spots on the All-Rookie Team.

Last year, the All-Rookie Team featured impressive talent that promises to make a significant impact in the league. Among them were Kate Rinklerk (Indiana Fever), Angel Rees (Chicago Sky), Ricker Jackson (Los Angeles Sparks), Camila Cardo Sau (Chicago Sky), and Leonie Fevich (New York Liberty). The excitement surrounding the 2024 class is making waves and attracting new fans to the WNBA.

This year’s rookie lineup appears even stronger, making the decision to narrow it down to just five very challenging.

Here are my selections for this year’s All-Rookie Team:

• Page Booker, Dallas Wings
• Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
• Kiki Iliafen, Washington Mystics
• Janelle Surrrown, Golden State Valkyrie
• Monique Akoa Makani, Phoenix Mercury

Top Picks: Page Booker, Kiki Iliafen, Sonia Citron

Out of the five rookies picked, three were standout choices: Page Booker, Kiki Iliafen, and Sonia Citron. Each of these players managed to secure All-Star honors in their debut season, establishing themselves as crucial contributors early on.

However, the selections beyond this trio led to some tough choices.

In considering the final two spots on the All-Rookie Team, I (mostly) deliberated on six other players.

• Leila Lakkan, Connecticut Sun
• Saniya Rivers, Connecticut Sun
• Anne Samorrow, Connecticut Sun
• Janelle Surrrown, Golden State Valkyries
• Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm
• Monique Akoa Makani, Phoenix Mercury

Alongside these individuals, I also took note of several other promising rookies, such as Louis Agaysel Douder from the Dallas Wings, Carla Late from the Valkyries, Tehina Paopao from the Atlanta Dream, and Kathryn West Beld of the Phoenix Mercury.

This rookie class has certainly shone brightly and would likely earn a full second team in a different scenario.

Rookies Competing for Two Final Spots

To narrow down the final two rookies, I drew from my observations, team performance data, and advanced statistics.

Of course, all advanced metrics have their shortcomings, but the ones mentioned below are worth noting.

True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is often utilized to compare player efficiency. This metric considers all types of field goals (both 2-pointers and 3-pointers) as well as free throws, making it a valuable tool for assessing scoring effectiveness.

Player Impact Estimation (PIE) quantifies a player’s overall contribution to a game by measuring their involvement in scoring, playmaking, and defense in one comprehensive score. This statistic can be enlightening—teams with a higher PIE than their opponents generally see greater success.

Leila Lakkan: Participated in 25 games, averaging 10.4 points with a 54.8% TS%, 10.2 PIE, and a net rating of -0.5.

Despite being drafted by the Sun in 2024, Lakkan, who joined mid-season, could have been a top pick if she’d had more time on the court. While there isn’t a specific game minimum, her impact in Connecticut was visible and significant.

It’s worth noting that the Sun’s performance varied dramatically with her presence—an average of 17.6 points per game when she was on the floor compared to -18.1 without her. That alone illustrates her influence.

Saniya Rivers: Appeared in 42 games, with an average of 8.8 points and a 49.5% TS%, 8.7 PIE, and -12.5 net rating.

Drafted eighth in 2025, Rivers is poised to become a significant WNBA player. She has displayed elite defensive skills and has recently upped her scoring, averaging 11.3 points over her last 15 games.

Nevertheless, her inefficiency and limited contributions to winning made it difficult to select her over some other strong candidates. Still, it’s impressive that she became just the second WNBA player to record at least 100 stocks (blocks and steals) in her rookie season.

Anne Samorrow: Participated in 41 games, averaging 7.7 points with a 46.1% TS%, 11.2 PIE, and a -9.1 net rating.

As many expected, Samorrow emerged as an excellent rebounder within her rookie class, averaging 6.9 boards per game. The team’s performance improved by 6.6 points when she was on the floor.

However, her inefficiency and limited minutes made it challenging to select her for a spot. Yet, if you’re a Sun fan, there’s a lot to be excited about regarding this draft pick.

Janelle Surrrown: Appeared in 35 games, with an average of 11.5 points at a 53.5% TS%, 9.8 PIE, and a +0.5 net rating.

Surrrown, an undrafted rookie from France, played an essential role in her team’s success. She has ramped up her performance lately, hitting double digits in scoring in 13 of her last 15 games.

Though her team didn’t secure as many wins as others, her contributions to a playoff-bound team bolster her case for selection.

Dominique Malonga: Participated in 42 games, averaging 7.7 points with a 56.6% TS%, 13.8 PIE, and a -1.3 net rating.

This 19-year-old rookie has shown great potential and was a top pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. While her chances were limited at the start of the season, her productivity has recently improved, with averages of 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds over her last 15 games.

Despite her talent, Malonga’s opportunities were not on par with other strong contenders for a spot on the All-Rookie Team.

Monique Akoa Makani: Appeared in 40 games, averaging 7.7 points with a 55% TS%, 7.6 PIE, and +9.6 net rating.

Akoa Makani’s case for inclusion on the All-Rookie Team is straightforward: she significantly impacts her team’s victories. As potentially the best defensive player of this rookie class, she has played a pivotal role for Phoenix, starting 39 of her games.

The Mercury’s performance improves noticeably with her on the court—outscoring opponents by 9.6 points, which speaks volumes.

While I wouldn’t claim she’s one of the top five rookies per se, she indeed made one of the most significant impacts in her inaugural season.

Both Surrrown and Makani contributed to playoff teams while demonstrating efficiency—especially for first-year players—while excelling on both ends of the court. Surrrown finished as the fourth leading scorer among rookies.

One of the more puzzling omissions was Dominique Malonga, whose limited role early in the season hindered her chances. It was also tough to see the Connecticut Sun go without representation on the All-Rookie list, given their exciting play this season. All three of their first-round rookie selections are undoubtedly deserving of acknowledgment for their inaugural year in the WNBA.