Tuesday, October 7, 2025
The Washington Mystics wrapped the team’s 2025 season with a 66–75 loss to the New York Liberty. It was a challenging year for the Mystics: with a 16-28 record, the team finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and 10th overall (out of 13 teams), just missing the cut for the WNBA playoffs, which admit only the top eight.?
Despite ending the summer on a tough 10-game losing streak, the Mystics experienced plenty of bright spots worth celebrating this year. Here are a few season highlights.?
WNBA Rookie of the Month: Kiki Iriafen?
On June 4, Kiki Iriafen became the first player in Mystics history to be named Rookie of the Month for her performance during the month of May. During her debut weeks in the WNBA, Iriafen averaged 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists across seven games. She also became the fastest player in team history to reach 50 points and 50 rebounds, surpassing the mark in just five games.?
Eastern Conference Player of the Week: Shakira Austin?
On June 24, center-forward Shakira Austin was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for her performance in the three games the Mystics played from June 16 to 22: wins over the Chicago Sky and the Dallas Wings and a one-point loss to the Atlanta Dream, the top team in the Eastern Conference. Across those three games, Austin averaged 19.3 points; she scored a career-high 28 points against Atlanta.??
All-Stars: Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Brittney Sykes ?
In early July, rookies Sonia Citron (guard, Notre Dame) and Kiki Iriafen (forward, USC) were selected as reserves for the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star game on July 19. Their selection marked only the second time in league history that rookie teammates were named All-Stars; the first instance occurred back in 1999. At this point in the season, Citron and Iriafen had started in all 18 games, averaging 14.6 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.???
Two days before the WNBA All-Star game, veteran Mystics guard Brittney Sykes was selected to replace the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark in the tournament after Clark injured her groin in a game against the Connecticut Sun earlier that week. At this point in her ninth season, Sykes was one of only five players averaging at least 17.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. Ultimately, in the All-Star battle between Team Clark and Team Collier — led by Napheesa?Collier of the Minnesota Lynx — Team Collier emerged victorious, 151–131.?
Alysha Clark and Jacy Sheldon?Join Mystics
On Aug. 5, Mystics GM Jamila Wideman announced that the team would be trading Brittney Sykes for the Seattle Storm’s first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, three-time WNBA champion forward Alysha Clark. Later in the week, the Mystics acquired guard Jacy Sheldon from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for forward Aaliyah Edwards.??
Wideman said the following regarding Sykes departure: “We’re grateful for Slim’s contributions this season as she played a key role in our growth. We’re proud of the individual success she achieved during her time with us, including earning her first All-Star selection. This allows Slim the opportunity to join a team that is expected to contend for a championship this season.”?
Austin, Citron and Iriafen Earn AP Honors?
On Sept. 12, a few days after the Mystics’ season came to a close, Shakira Austin was named the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year. In 2024, Austin appeared in only 12 games due to injury. This year, she played in a career-high 38 games and averaged a career-best 12.7 points per game.??
Rookies Citron and Iriafen were also selected for AP Honors, with both earning unanimous nominations to the 2025 AP All-Rookie Team. In addition to playing in all 44 games this season, both rookies broke records. Citron finished the season with a 44.5-percent three-point percentage, the best in the WNBA and the highest ever by a rookie in league history. Iriafen averaged 8.5 rebounds per game, the most by a rookie in franchise history and the fourth overall in the league this year.?
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