Mystics' Sonia Citron sends Paige Bueckers a Rookie of the Year warning
Sunday's game in Arlington between the Dallas Wings and the Washington Mystics was a chance for Sonia Citron to gain some ground on Paige Bueckers in the race for WNBA Rookie of the Year honors.
After Citron helped the Mystics to a win at College Park Center, the burgeoning star guard is gaining momentum to become the first Washington player in 20 years to win Rookie of the Year honors.
MORE: Seattle Storm trade for 15.4 PPG scorer while dealing away player, pick to chase playoffs
Citron scored 18 points, provided six assists and hauled in five rebounds as the Mystics remained in the playoff hunt with a 91-78 win over the Wings. Citron, selected two spots behind Bueckers in April's draft, outdueled her Dallas counterpart, who mustered 17 points, three assists and two steals after missing the previous game with a back injury.
Citron's all-around impact is a key reason why rebuilding Washington (14-17) has hung around the playoff race longer than expected.
An All-Star at the first time of asking -- just like Bueckers -- Citron this season has played in all 31 Mystics games. The former Notre Dame standout is second in rookie scoring (14.8 points per game), fifth in rebounding (4.5) and fifth in assists (2.4).
In addition, Citron ranks third in total steals (39), third in 3-point percentage (38.8) and first in win shares (3.7), estimating a player's value to a team's win total.
However, the player Citron finds herself behind in most of these categories is none other than Bueckers -- whom oddsmakers still regard as the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
After all, Bueckers on Sunday became the fastest rookie ever to reach 450 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists. Even though Dallas (8-24) continues to struggle, Bueckers leads all rookies in points per game (18.5) and total points (463), as well as assists and steals on a total and per-game basis.
Even if Citron comes up short in the Rookie of the Year race, it seems likely that she will enjoy a fruitful career as part of the loaded 2025 draft class that featured Bueckers, Dominique Malonga and Kiki Iriafen.
MORE WNBA NEWS:
Storm's Dominique Malonga is youngest player in WNBA history with points-rebounds stats record
Rhyne Howard explodes at refs in fiery return before shock ejection
Why the Dallas Wings are staying quiet at the WNBA trade deadline
The Indiana Fever is running out of point guards
How Wings' Paige Bueckers is already trending toward all-time great status
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