Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, two Washington Mystics stars, got added to Team USA’s FIBA World Cup roster, stepping in for A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum who are out with health issues. Talk about a curveball! These two went to the training camp way back in December, and Iriafen even hit the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in March, but neither of them made the cut initially. Now? Berlin-bound, baby!
From Camp Outsider to Berlin-Bound: The Mystics’ Surprise Call-Ups
This is a wild turn for the Mystics duo. Citron, at 22, and Iriafen, 23, aren’t on the roster; they’re the two youngest players on Team USA. That’s some serious fresh blood stepping onto the world stage!
But wait, there’s more Mystics news. Their undrafted rookie guard, Alicia Floreé, who’s been slowly carving out a backup point guard role in DC, got named to Spain’s World Cup roster. At 22 years old herself, Florez is competing with fewer WNBA-level players on Spain’s depth chart, which could mean a bigger impact for her home country than what her Mystics teammates might find with Team USA.
Can Citron Carve Out a Role Among Heavy Hitters?
Let’s be real, for Iriafen and Citron, getting called up late means an uphill battle for consistent minutes under head coach Kara Lawson. For Citron especially, it looks like she’ll have a better shot at playing her Notre Dame role, that off-ball shooting savant, rather than the ball-dominant creator she’s grown into in Washington.
Team USA’s got some absolute studs vying for off-ball guard and wing minutes: Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young, and Rhyne Howard. Caitlin Clark, Paige Buckers, and Chelsea Gray are more on-ball types, so Citron’s competition is tough. Realistically, two or three of those off-ball players will be on the court at once, so Citron’s gotta outshine at least one of those names to see minutes off the bench.
It’s tough to imagine Citron outplaying Breanna Stewart in just a few practices before Friday. But Copper, Young, and Howard? Those are more realistic battles. Rhyne Howard, for example, really depends on her three-pointer falling to be impactful. Citron has shot more than five percent better than Howard from beyond the arc since entering the WNBA last season, and she’s even built up her ancillary playmaking. That gap between them? It’s closing. Copper and Young might seem more like sparkplug scorers with athletic advantages on paper, but don’t sleep on Citron’s shooting; she’s generally a better shooter than both.
While these Mystics are off chasing international glory, it was a tough night for our local squad. Our Seattle Storm fell to the Los Angeles Sparks 90-74. Ouch. Time to regroup and come back stronger!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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