Just under a day into the WNBA season, only six out of the league’s 15 teams have played. That said, let’s dive into some early highlights and low points from the opening games of the 2025-2026 season.
Winner: Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
Sofia Citron is off to a fantastic start in her second year, picking up right where she left off after a strong rookie season. In the Mystics’ narrow 68-65 victory against the Toronto Tempo on Friday, she notched a game-high 26 points, shooting 9-of-12 overall and hitting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Additionally, she contributed two steals and two blocks, reinforcing her reputation as one of the WNBA’s standout two-way guards.
Washington Mystics coach Sidney Johnson highlighted Citron’s exceptional performance.
“Her normality is wonderful to many others,” he remarked.
Winner: Caitlin Chen, Golden State Valkyries
Caitlin Chen, a third-round pick from the 2025 draft who joined the Valkyries midway through her rookie season, had an impressive offseason. This effort earned her a place on Golden State’s Opening Day roster. In her debut, she scored 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting, along with two assists and no turnovers, helping the Valkyries to a 91-80 win over the Seattle Storm.
Afterward, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase commended Chen for her dedication during the offseason.
“She’s working hard,” Nakase noted. “That’s really a testament to her effort in the offseason. She even came to the Bay for a few weeks after playing overseas to refine her game.”
“Her ability to score from all three levels was evident. You saw how she took charge during her time at AU. It was really rewarding to see that kind of dominance.”
Loser: 2026 Rookie Class
It may be early in the season, but the 2026 draft prospects appear to be struggling. So far, just one rookie has managed to score in double figures. Fraujai Johnson, a guard for the Seattle Storm, managed to score 12 points on only 25% shooting in the team’s loss to the Golden State Valkyries.
Azee Fudd, the Dallas Wings’ top draft pick, came off the bench to score three points with 1-for-2 shooting over 18 minutes. Meanwhile, second pick Our Fam remains overseas, and the fourth pick, Lauren Betts, didn’t score in her debut with the Mystics.
While there’s still time for players to make their mark, the first 24 hours of the WNBA season haven’t quite dispelled the notion that many from the 2026 class may end up as role players.
Loser: Connecticut Sun
In their season opener, the Connecticut Suns faced a tough loss against the New York Liberty, falling 106-75. They started strong but ultimately couldn’t keep up; the Liberty, one of the league’s stronger teams, maintained control throughout the match.
Only three players managed to score in double digits: Diamond Miller with 16 points, Aneesah Morrow with 15, and Brittney Griner with 13. Collectively, the team shot 39% from the field and struggled with a dismal 18% from three-point range.
This wasn’t the kind of start they aimed for, especially considering they were missing Layla Lacan, one of their top players from last season. It was definitely not the ideal way to kick off his last season with the Sun.
