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Washington Mystics Make Major Kiki Iriafen Announcement After Career Night

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Deyscha Smith | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 2:44 PM ET

Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen continues to impress as one of the most dynamic rookies this season.

With her ability to score, hold her own in the paint and compete at a level well beyond her years, her performance so far this season has caught everyone's attention—including the WNBA.

On Wednesday, the League announced that she's been named Rookie of the Month.

The 6-3 standout is currently averaging 14.6 points per game and 10 rebounds, making her just the sixth player ever in WNBA history to average a double-double through the first eight games of her career. She's also scored in double figures in every single game so far this season, including in last night's loss to the Indiana Fever, in which she had 20 points.

To put into perspective just how dominant, Iriafen is currently ranked No. 2 in points per game of all rookies and is No. 1 in rebounds. In terms of the entire WNBA, she's currently ranked No. 4 in rebound per game, just below Aces' superstar and M'VP, A'ja Wilson.

With all of her success so far, Iriafen remains humble and even looked a bit surprised when Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson revealed the news to her that she'd won Rookie of the Month:

Your May 2025 @WNBA Rookie of the Month pic.twitter.com/TXgA4kugSV
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 4, 2025

"We have an award winner," Johnson said to her in a video posted by the Mystics on X. "We applaud you and your sisters because I hope that you feel we share this with you."

As her teammates chanted "SPEECH! SPEECH!" Iriafen thanked them for helping her find her "joy of basketball again":

"I didn't even know this was a thing," she said with a smile. "I just want to thank all of you guys. Like, I don't know...Being on this team, I feel like was perfect timing and the perfect people to be around because you guys have really helped me find the love and the joy of basketball again...Truly, I wouldn't be able to do this without you guys because you guys give me the ball."

Amidst laughter, Iriafen left her teammates with a message: "Let's just keep winning."

The Mystics, who are now 3-5, will face the New York Liberty at home on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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