May 30, 2025
Locked On Women’s Basketball: How did the Washington Mystics earn their 3-3 record?
By The Next
Rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have exceeded expectations
Two weeks into the WNBA season, The Next’s Washington Mystics beat reporter Jenn Hatfield joins host Natalie Heavren to chat all about the team’s season so far. The pair chats about the Mystics win over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night as well as what lies ahead for Washington. Hatfield also discusses the impacts of veteran guard Brittney Sykes as well as rookie guard Sonia Citron and rookie forward Kiki Iriafen.
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The Washington Mystics snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday night with an 83–77 win over the Indiana Fever, bringing their record back to .500. A key factor in the victory was the team’s improved ball security. As Hatfield notes, “The thing that really leaps off the stat sheet is the Mystics turnovers—they had just 17…whereas they had 29 in a loss at Phoenix on Sunday.” The reduced turnovers helped Washington limit Indiana’s scoring opportunities and maximize their own offensive chances.
The Mystics also benefited from a healthier frontcourt. Shakira Austin returned from a concussion and immediately made an impact with 13 first-half points, while Aaliyah Edwards continued her recovery from a back contusion. Austin looked more like her dominant self, both physically and mentally. Hatfield shared that Austin “used the concussion as a chance for her to kind of reset and…get her back to equilibrium.” This renewed depth in the frontcourt gave Washington the flexibility to manage matchups effectively and contain Indiana’s key post players like Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard.
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Later, Hatfield discussed Mystics guard Brittney Sykes, who entered 2024 focused on evolving as a vocal leader before sustaining an injury. Though her season was again interrupted by injury early on, Sykes used offseason experiences—including leading a FIBA 3×3 team and learning from WNBA champion Chelsea Gray at Unrivaled—to refine her leadership approach. That growth, coupled with her early bond with new head coach Sydney Johnson—who coached her on the national team—helped solidify a strong leadership core for the Mystics.
Alongside Sykes, rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have exceeded expectations, becoming critical to Washington’s early success. Citron has brought consistency and poise as the team’s only true wing, while Iriafen has forced her way into the starting lineup by averaging a double-double—including a historic four straight double-doubles, a first for a Mystics rookie. Without their performances, the team could easily be winless, as they’ve kept Washington competitive in every game. As the season progresses, the focus will shift to continued development and identifying which young players will be foundational pieces moving forward—an exciting prospect for a franchise navigating a rebuild ahead of schedule.
