Recently, we took a closer look at three leading MVP contenders: Napheesa Collier, Caitlin Clark, and Allisha Gray. However, this season’s Rookie of the Year race is also heating up, featuring three standout players from the 2025 draft class. The frontrunners are Dallas’s top pick, Paige Bueckers, along with Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, drafted at numbers three and four, respectively, both playing for Washington.
According to FanDuel’s current odds, Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen are leading the pack, with Bueckers at -1200, followed by Iriafen at +950 and Citron at +2500.
When we look at their stats, it’s evident that this is a tight race. The numbers gathered from their performances suggest they’re closely matched.
Rookie of the Year Leader
| Statistics | Paige Bueckers | Sonia Citron | Kiki Iriafen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics | Paige Bueckers | Sonia Citron | Kiki Iriafen |
| Team Records | 4-12 | 7-8 | 7-8 |
| Games Played | 12 | 15 | 15 |
| Points Per Game | 17.7 | 14.2 | 13.3 |
| Assists Per Game | 5.8 | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 4.7 | 4.9 | 8.8 |
| Total Points | 212 | 213 | 199 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 45.70% | 47.10% | 49.70% |
| Field Goals Made Per Game | 6.7 | 4.9 | 5.2 |
| Field Goals Attempted Per Game | 14.6 | 10.3 | 10.5 |
| Three-Point Percentage | 30.80% | 35.90% | 0% |
| Free Throw Percentage | 85.10% | 84.60% | 75.40% |
| True Shooting Percentage | 54% | 60% | 54.00% |
| Turnovers Per Game | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Steals Per Game | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| Blocks Per Game | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Usage Rate | 22.60% | 18.80% | 23.20% |
| Assist: Turnover Ratio | 2.38 | 1.03 | 0.81 |
| Win Shares | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Defensive Rating | 103.9 | 99.7 | 98 |
Before diving deeper into these numbers, it should be noted that while Citron and Iriafen have both played 15 games, Bueckers has participated in only 12. Washington holds a record of 7-8, while Dallas sits at 4-12. However, typically, award nominations focus less on team records, especially in cases like this. So, let’s get to the stats!
Bueckers leads with an average of 17.7 points per game, totalling 212 points. Citron comes next with 14.2 points per game, just surpassing Bueckers’ total points with 213. Iliafen follows with 13.3 points per game and a total of 199. Bueckers excels in assists, while Iriafen stands out in rebounds, which makes sense given their respective positions. Iriafen also has the highest field goal percentage at 49.7%, but Bueckers has a higher number of field goals made per game. Bueckers averages 6.7 field goals per game compared to Citron’s 4.9 and Iriafen’s 5.2.
For three-point shooting, Citron is currently ahead, hitting 35.9% compared to Bueckers’ 30.8%. Citron attempts more three-pointers per game, drilling 1.5, while Bueckers makes just 1.0 from 3. Free throws are another strong suit for Bueckers, who stands at 85.1% accuracy.
Citron also leads in true shooting percentage at 60%, while both Bueckers and Iriafen are at 54%.
Regarding turnovers, Iriafen averages the fewest with 1.8. In contrast, Citron and Bueckers have slightly higher averages. Citron’s is 2.1, and Bueckers is 2.7.
Bueckers leads in steals and blocks per game, showcasing her defensive strength. Meanwhile, Iriafen boasts the best defensive rating at 98 points allowed per 100 possessions, with Citron close behind at 99.7 and Bueckers at 103.9.
Bueckers also leads in offensive rating, scoring 111.6 points per 100 possessions, followed by Citron at 109.3 and Iriafen at 107.9. Bueckers has the best assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.38. Notably, Iriafen leads in usage rate at 23.8%, Bueckers closely follows at 22.6%, and Citron sits at 18.8%.
In terms of win shares, Citron is slightly ahead at 1.6, with Bueckers and Iliafen tied at 1.5. This limited margin makes it tough for voters in the coming months since they all have similar game appearances.
Lastly, Bueckers leads in featured categories with nine, Citron follows with six, and Iriafen has five. They all play enough minutes to provide extensive data for voters. Each has a chance to participate in the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game and looks likely to be named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team by year’s end.
This award discussion is certainly exciting, but the real takeaway is that these players are destined to become stars in the WNBA. They have the potential to be future MVPs and key players for Team USA in the long run. The future looks incredibly promising, especially with a rookie class like this. Fans in Dallas and Washington can take comfort knowing their budding stars are under long-term contracts and are here to stay.
