Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and Washington Mystics forwards Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have all been named 2025 WNBA All-Stars, marking just the fourth time since 2000 that three or more first-year players have earned the honor in the same season. It’s the league’s first rookie trio to reach All-Star status since 2011.
Bueckers will start in the July 19 showcase in Indianapolis after finishing as the highest vote-getter across fan, player and media voting. Iriafen and Citron were selected as reserves, earning recognition from WNBA coaches for their early-season production and poise.
Bueckers Leads Pack With All-Star Starter Selection
The top pick in April’s draft, Bueckers has wasted no time establishing herself as one of the league’s most complete guards. She’s averaging 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists across her first 14 games while shooting 47.5% from the floor, 34.8% from beyond the arc, and 86.7% on free throws.
The 6-foot guard has brought scoring punch, playmaking, and leadership to a Dallas Wings team that has faced extensive injury challenges. She’s already tallied seven games with at least 20 points, including a 23-point, five-assist performance in a win over the Phoenix Mercury last week.
Bueckers was one of 10 players named All-Star starters through the league’s weighted voting format, which is split between fans (50%), current players (25%), and media members (25%). Despite being a rookie, she finished with the highest composite score among all candidates.
“It means a lot,” Bueckers said. “I feel like I have a lot of people who go to bat for me. To have people who really know and understand the game respect what I do, that’s meaningful.”
Bueckers has faced intense scrutiny dating back to her decorated high school and college careers, but she’s remained grounded in her first professional season. Asked whether the All-Star nod validated her rise, she deflected.
“I don’t live by anybody else’s expectations or what I’m supposed to look like,” she said. “I go out there and play every single game and possession for what it is. The results may vary, and whatever they look like on any given night, I live with them.”
Her perspective, she says, comes from intentional work on the mental side of the game—staying in the moment, focusing on the process, and blocking out outside noise.
“A lot of mental work—framing my thoughts and perspective on basketball and life,” she said. “Running my own race and not looking to the side to see what anyone else is doing. Just being where my feet are.”
Mystics Duo Turns Early Momentum Into All-Star Recognition
The Washington Mystics may not be among the league’s top teams in the standings, but their rebuild has already yielded star power. Iriafen and Citron, drafted third and fourth overall respectively, were each named to the All-Star Game as reserves.
Iriafen has emerged as one of the most productive frontcourt players in the WNBA. She is averaging 12.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. With an impressive rebounding motor and soft touch around the rim, she’s made an instant impact in the Mystics’ offense while holding her own defensively against veteran posts. Her All-Star selection caps off a strong first half that exceeded even her own expectations.
“Not really feeling confident in myself in coming to this level,” Iriafen said. “So to have success early, it was definitely something that I was proud of myself for kind of overcoming that. But seeing myself now and being an All-Star, it doesn’t even sound real coming out of my mouth.”
Citron, a polished and cerebral guard from Notre Dame, has proven equally valuable in Washington’s rotation. She is averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.1 minutes per game. Her ability to guard multiple positions, hit timely shots, and operate as a secondary playmaker has made her a favorite among coaches league-wide.
Historic Moment for Rookie Class
The last time three or more rookies made the WNBA All-Star Game was in 2011, when Maya Moore, Courtney Vandersloot and Liz Cambage all debuted on the national stage. Before that, it only happened in 2009 and 2002. In a league where experience often defines rotations, the emergence of Bueckers, Iriafen and Citron signals a continued changing of the guard.
They’ll take the floor at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be held on July 19. The format will feature team captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier selecting 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 year also include veterans Kayla Thornton (Golden State) and Gabby Williams (Seattle). Among the reserves are Skylar Diggins, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Rhyne Howard, Kelsey Mitchell, Angel Reese and Courtney Williams. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will name a replacement for any player unable to participate.
But all eyes will be on the three rookies breaking tradition—and setting the stage for a future where first-year players no longer wait their turn.
