Kiki Iriafen has joined the prestigious ranks of the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, as initially reported by Athlon Sports. Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen is establishing herself as one of the standout rookies this season.
Despite an 85-76 loss to the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, Iriafen had a career-best performance, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Currently, she averages 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, having scored in every game this season—making her the first rookie to do so since A’ja Wilson. Her teammate Sonia Citron, who added 13 points, has matched this achievement.
Iriafen is also the sixth player in WNBA history to average double-doubles through the first eight games of their career, a feat last achieved by Tina Charles in 2010. Selected fourth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Iriafen has lived up to the high expectations. Alongside Citron, the third overall pick averaging 14.3 points per game, they form a dynamic rookie duo also joined by established players like Brittney Sykes, Stepha Needleson, and Shakira Austin.
Citron and Iriafen are the first rookies this season to surpass 100 points, with Citron reaching the milestone against the New York Liberty. They rank second and third in scoring among all rookies.
In a notable moment, Iriafen joined Dallas Wings’ Page Booker as the only rookies to score 20 points more than once this season. The Mystics, currently with a 3-5 record, aim to rebound from consecutive losses as they prepare to face New York on Thursday.
This story was originally covered by Athlon Sports on June 4, 2025.
Fan Take: Kiki Iriafen’s impressive rookie performance signals a promising future for the WNBA, highlighting the league’s rising talent and its ability to deliver exciting, high-level basketball. For fans, this means witnessing the emergence of stars who could shape the sport’s competitive landscape for years to come.
