The race to the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year is on. Many notable names like Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron have thrown their name in the hat, trying to clinch the title from reigning ROTY, Caitlin Clark. However, a consensus has formed that the Dallas Wings guard is way ahead in the race.
There is no doubt that Bueckers is spearheading the Wings’ offense. However, industry insider Rachel A. DeMita is irked by this fact. She believes calling this year’s ROTY race one-sided is a disservice to the Indiana Fever guard. But why does she believe that? Well, the truth lies in the numbers.
This fiasco began with the August 12 episode of the Courtside Club podcast. “I know that we are talking about Sonia Citron and we are talking about Kiki Iriafen earlier on in the season [for ROTY], but it seems like, as of late, it is the Paige Becker show,” DeMita pointed out. All eyes have indeed turned towards Bueckers in the latter part of the season. And why should they not?
Paige Bueckers has quickly become a statistical standout, surpassing Caitlin Clark in some areas. She’s the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, and she earned back-to-back Rookie of the Month honors in June and July. Even DeMita acknowledged that, but added a big what if, stating, “While I do agree that Paige should win rookie of the year if it were crowned at this very moment, there should be more discussion about the race because Sonia Citron is somebody who has been playing consistently well throughout this entire season.”
With 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting against the Wings on August 10, Citron reached double figures for an eighth consecutive game. When the two have gone head-to-head, Citron has a clear edge. She scores 22.5 PPG and 8.0 RPG to Bueckers’ 18.5 and 6.0. This disparity between what is on the stats and what is being projected is the main concern for DeMita. And she brought out last year’s example to solidify her case.
2025 ROTY reignites the Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese debate
The podcast host compared last year’s dominant run of Clark to that of Bueckers. However, there was one major difference last year: Angel Reese. The Chicago Sky player was also alive in the race despite Clark breaking records left and right. The main reason CC vs AR looked close in the ROTY was the media’s reasoning, which was that (for a portion of the season) Sky was performing better than Fever.
“If you go by the same standards as last year, when we were talking about the rookie of the year race with Angel and with Caitlin, the Washington Mystics are on the playoff bubble, and they are doing significantly better than the Dallas Wings,” DeMita added, pointing out the unfairness shown to CC last year.
DeMita highlighted that their numbers this season are almost neck and neck, a sharp contrast from 2024. Citron has logged 31 games, putting up 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals on 47.1% shooting. Bueckers, in 25 games, is averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.8 steals with a 45.9% shooting.
Aug 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA. Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (22) dribbles upcourt ahead of Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) during the first half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images.
Last year, Caitlin Clark dominated with four Rookie of the Month awards, while Angel Reese grabbed just one. This year, Kiki Iriafen took May’s honors before Bueckers went back-to-back in June and July. With this, DeMita’s message is clear: Bueckers is ahead in the ROTY chase, but her rivals are keeping it far tighter than before.
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