Kiki

Iriafen

Like fellow Mystics rookie Sonia Citron, Iriafen’s first season in the nation’s capital was highly encouraging for the franchise. The forward earned an All-Star Game invite in her first season and was one of the WNBA’s most consistent and impressive rookies. Iriafen started all 44 games, recording 16 double-doubles and grabbing at least 10 rebounds on 19 occasions. A late-round pick in most fantasy drafts before this season began, Iriafen should be a popular target, even with the offseason likely to be one of significant change due to the number of players who will be free agents.

Iriafen has scored at least nine points in 18 straight games, reaching double figures in 16. While fellow rookie Sonia Citron broke the Mystics’ single-season scoring record on Sunday, Iriafen has been just as consistent in her debut campaign. Washington will take a season-long nine-game losing streak into Tuesday’s season finale against the Liberty, but the finish should not overshadow the progress made by Iriafen and Citron. With both earning All-Star Game invites as rookies, the future appears to be bright in Washington.

Iriafen finished Thursday’s defeat with her 16th double-double and second in as many games. While the Mystics have lost eight straight, their rookie forward has recorded five double-doubles during this stretch. The decision to trade Brittney Sykes at the August deadline effectively ended Washington’s postseason hopes, but the rookie campaigns put forth by Iriafen and Sonia Citron (7/4/1/1/1 with one three-pointer in 31 minutes) give the franchise hope for the future.

Iriafen shot 3-for-10 as she struggled to score over the length of Azurá Stevens and former teammate from college Cameron Brink in the first half. In the second half however, the Mystics worked to get Iriafen higher percentage looks where the Mystics power forward was cutting in space and not posting up or being guarding one-on-one by a Sparks defender. Iriafen also took advantage of whenever she was being guarded by Dearica Hamby, a player who was guarding out of position when matched onto Iriafen. She hit a 27-foot above the break three-pointer with 45.7 seconds left in regulation to bring the Mystics within five points of the Sparks. Iriafen had her 15th double-double of the season, which is now tied the fifth-most for a rookie in WNBA history.

Iriafen was efficient in her scoring opportunities, which led to her finishing as one of two Mystics players to score in double figures. The double-digit points total marked the 30th of the season for the rookie, who has consistently impressed throughout her first season in the WNBA. And despite the Mystics’ postseason chances fading as the team has lost five games in a row, Iriafen, alongside fellow rookie Sonia Citron, will have a chance to run through the finish line of their debut regular season.

Iriafen’s 12 points on Sunday afternoon came either at the rim or from the mid-range. She drove and hit some difficult jumpers while being guarded by two-way star Nneka Ogwumike. She hit a 19-foot bank shot while she was spaced out around the free throw line with the Storm defense all clustered in the paint. Similarly to teammate and front court partner Shakira Austin, Iriafen was able to take advantage of Dominique Malonga’s poor defense. Iriafen drove right past the rookie on a couple of occasions. Iriafen and fellow rookie Sonia Citron both led the Mystics in rebounding on Sunday with six.

Iriafen set a new career-high in rebounds on Saturday, surpassing the 14 she collected against the Sun back in early May. Six of her rebounds came on the offensive end, and although her rebounding was impressive, so was her scoring. The rookie forward tallied at least 20 points for the fifth time this season, and did so by way of efficient shooting and high volume at the charity stripe. In the end, Iriafen secured her 14th double-double, which the Mystics could use more of in order to stay in the race for a playoff spot down the home stretch of the regular season.

Not much went according to plan for Washington’s offense against Connecticut, but Iriafen’s efficient shooting served as one of the bright spots. The rookie forward also took advantage of the free-throw line and ultimately finished as one of just two Mystics players to score in double figures, while her double-digit rebounds led her to her 13th double-double of the season. Washington has lost seven of its last 10 games, and the team likely will lean heavily on Iriafen on Saturday against the Aces in hopes of getting back on track and staying alive in the race for the postseason.

Iriafen struggled with her shot on Tuesday, but that did not prevent the rookie from reaching double digits in rebounds for the 15th time this season. Also, she’s dished out three assists or more in three of her last four appearances. The Mystics don’t call on Iriafen to do much facilitating, but that may be an area where she can offer additional value in the team’s final games of the season. A double-digit rebounder in six straight games, Iriafen has led the Mystics in that category on 21 occasions.

Iriafen recorded her sixth game this season with over 15 points and at least 10 rebounds, which is the most of any 2025 rookie and the most in Mystics history. Her teammates Sug Sutton, Alysha Clark, and Jade Melbourne all found her cutting to the basket or in position to exploit on post-ups and driving lanes. With her rebounds on Sunday afternoon, Iriafen tied A’ja Wilson for tenth on the All-Time rookie defensive rebounding list.