When Sonia Citron steps onto the court for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, she’ll be reuniting with a familiar face.
The Washington Mystics rookie will play alongside Caitlin Clark, but this won’t be their first time as teammates. Four years ago, both players wore Team USA jerseys together, setting the stage for what would become two of the most talked-about careers in women’s basketball.
How Did Sonia Citron and Caitlin Clark First Connect as Teammates?
Wasjington Mystics guard Sonia Citron will suit up for Team Caitlin Clark in the 2025 WNBA All-Star game against Team Napheesa Collier. However, this reunion has deeper roots than most fans realize. The Mystics guard has played with Clark as teammates before, sharing this connection during her recent appearance on “Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie.”
“I have played with Caitlin [Clark] before, actually,” Citron said. “I played with her four years ago. We both made the U19 World Cup team. It was before I even got to college. It seems like forever ago, but I did play with her. Obviously, Kiki’s on the team. I haven’t played with anyone else.”
The connection dates back to 2021, when both Citron and Clark represented Team USA at the FIBA Under-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Hungary. Team USA dominated the tournament, winning the gold medal while finishing undefeated.
Clark earned tournament MVP honors for her performance. Meanwhile, Citron joined Clark on the All-Tournament Team, recognizing their standout play throughout the competition.
Citron’s current teammates Jade Melbourne and Sika Koné also made the All-Tournament Team, adding another layer to the Mystics connection. Hungary’s Júlia Boros completed the five-player squad.
What Does Clark Think About Citron’s WNBA Success?
Clark’s familiarity with Citron’s game showed during the All-Star draft process. The Indiana Fever star spoke highly of the Mystics rookie when she selected her eighth overall, fourth among reserves.
“I’m going to take Citron,” Clark said when she picked her. “Big fan of her game. Been a big fan of her since she’s been in college. Um, and I’ve been telling everybody I thought she would be a tremendous player when she got into the league, and she hasn’t let me down. So, I appreciate that. So, I’m taking her on my team. Great addition for us. I’m excited.”
The timing of Clark’s selection carried extra significance. She picked Citron immediately after Collier selected Angel Reese, whom many consider the biggest rival of the Fever’s All-Star guard.
Citron’s rookie season has lived up to Clark’s expectations. The third overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft has established herself as one of three rookies earning All-Star selection in the 2024-25 campaign. Paige Bueckers, the number one draft pick, and Kiki Iriafen, Citron’s Mystics teammate, round out the rookie All-Star trio.
The recognition extends beyond All-Star selections. Although Bueckers leads the oddsmaker’s favorite to win the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, Citron remains in contention. BetMGM has her tied for second with teammate Iriafen.
Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey had already predicted that Citron would compete for rookie of the year honors. Her former coach’s prediction has proven accurate, as Citron is averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, two assists, and 1.1 steals per game in her debut WNBA season.
Despite her overall success, Citron experienced a tough outing in her most recent game. The Mystics managed to edge past the Las Vegas Aces in a 70-68 victory, but Citron struggled offensively. She played 38 minutes but scored only nine points while failing to record an assist. However, seven of her nine points came in the final quarter, helping Washington secure the come-from-behind win.
