Sonia Citron scored 26 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds as the Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 88-81 on Wednesday despite missing Kiki Iriafen (ankle) and Shakira Austin (knee).
The Washington Mystics didn’t have much room for error on Wednesday night, and they still found a way to deliver one of those games that feels tailor-made for a young star’s case.
Playing without forward Kiki Iriafen (ankle) and center Shakira Austin (knee). the Mystics held on for an 88-81 road victory over the Connecticut Sun. It was the kind of win that doesn’t just add a notch to the standings—it answers a question about who carries the load when the usual scoring help is unavailable.
That responsibility landed heavily on second-year guard Sonia Citron. Washington’s leading scorer. who produced a 26-point performance built for both scoring and control. Citron finished with 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 0-for-4 from three, and she hauled in a career-high 12 rebounds. She also added four assists and one block over 38 minutes.
Her night carried extra weight because the Mystics were stretched thin. Washington leaned on Citron more than anyone else—head coach Sydney Johnson used only three bench players in the game. while Connecticut used seven. The Sun won the bench-scoring battle 42-11, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Citron’s impact showed up in the details. The 2025 All-Star led all players in points and rebounds while also tying for the lead in assists. And just hours after the first fan returns for WNBA All-Star voting came out. she backed up her momentum with a performance that looked like it belonged on the biggest stage.
Citron entered the voting ranked 18th with 73,274 votes, according to WNBA Communications. Iriafen was 15th with 88,931 votes. With 22 total All-Star roster spots available—starters voted on by fans. players. and media. while reserves are picked by coaches—the timing mattered. For Washington, this wasn’t only about one game; it was about sustaining the push for another selection.
Citron and Iriafen are both on pace to be All-Star reserves for the second straight year. For the Mystics, that would be another feather after drafting them third and fourth overall in 2025, respectively. The pairing—along with frontcourt pieces like Shakira Austin and forward Michaela Onyenwere—is part of why Washington sits just a half-game out of a playoff spot at 6-7 despite being the youngest team in league history.
Onyenwere added to the night’s steadiness with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-4 from three, plus three rebounds and one steal over 32 minutes.
The win also arrived as Washington tried to bounce back from a rougher moment earlier in the week. The Mystics had lost 86-64 to the New York Liberty on Sunday. Connecticut, despite being the WNBA’s worst team at 2-14, still posed a challenge of its own.
That challenge was real, even if Connecticut’s scoreboard strength wasn’t the story. The Sun’s ability to move through its lineup matters, and Wednesday still stood as a test of Washington’s depth when top options were out.
Citron’s offensive rhythm has been uneven at times this season—she has taken fewer than 10 shots in four of her 12 games so far despite being the primary option. But she’s also delivered performances that flip the narrative, and Wednesday was the clearest example.
This was her third game with 26-plus points and her fourth with 10-plus free throws attempted. She went 12-for-12 at the charity stripe, a detail that mattered against a team that could keep pressing if the Mystics let opportunities slip.
There was also continuity in how her scoring has shown up across recent games. Citron scored 12 points (3-9 FG. 1-5 3-point) with three rebounds and two assists across 31 minutes in the earlier Liberty game. when Washington was without Iriafen while New York had all of its All-Stars—forward Breanna Stewart. center Jonquel Jones. forward Satou Sabally. and guard Sabrina Ionescu.
After that. her development has drawn praise from players around the league. and Breanna Stewart specifically pointed to what Citron is learning. Postgame, Stewart said, “I think Soni is continuing to understand her spots, her awareness. I’m sure that on a team like DC she’s getting different coverages every single night and learning how to read those and differentiate…” Stewart also added. “Also being a young leader on the team…Hopefully we made it a little tougher for her tonight. because she’s capable of going off at any moment.”.
Citron has backed up that belief not just with big outputs, but with big moments. She delivered again during Friday’s 86-85 win over the Toronto Tempo, hitting a turnaround midrange shot to win the game at the buzzer after a jump ball.
For Washington, the next challenge comes fast. Citron and the Mystics will have another chance to prove themselves against the Liberty in a road matchup this coming Friday, tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION.
WNBA Washington Mystics Connecticut Sun Sonia Citron Kiki Iriafen Shakira Austin Michaela Onyenwere All-Star voting double-double
26 points is wild. Did she even miss any shots??
So they won 88-81 but the Sun had more bench scoring (42-11)?? Sounds like basketball math is fake lol. Either way Citron definitely carried.
Wait I thought Kiki Iriafen was the main one? Like why is she out with an ankle and then they just act like it’s fine. Also 0-for-4 from three seems weird for an All-Star type night.
This is why I don’t get WNBA voting. Like she’s 18th with 73k votes and Iriafen 15th with 88k… so how does the “big stage” thing work if they’re missing players anyway. Coach only used three bench players?? That seems like coaching malpractice but they still won so I guess it’s genius.