The Washington Mystics may be off to a rocky start this WNBA season, but one of their brightest young stars is already rewriting the league’s history books.
After beginning the 2025 campaign with back-to-back wins, the Mystics have now dropped three straight games, bringing their record to 3-2. Despite the team’s recent struggles, rookie forward Kiki Iriafen is emerging as a silver lining for Washington — and making waves league-wide.
In the May 25 matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, Iriafen etched her name into WNBA history by breaking a 26-year-old record that could even make top draft pick Paige Bueckers take notice.
Kiki Iriafen Stunned Everyone With Her New Record
Selected fourth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Iriafen has made an immediate impact. In Sunday’s 68–62 loss to the Mercury, the 6-foot-3 forward posted 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, notching her fourth double-double in just five games.
The only other player in WNBA history to achieve four double-doubles in their first five professional games was Natalie Williams, back in 1999.
But Iriafen’s impact goes even further — she’s now set a new mark for the highest number of rebounds recorded by any WNBA player in their first five games since 1999, collecting an impressive total of 56 boards.
Kiki Iriafen is the fastest WNBA player since 1999 to record 50 points & 50 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/EtcvdDVFCs
— Polymarket Hoops (@StatMamba) May 26, 2025
Despite her record-setting performance, Iriafen’s efforts weren’t enough to lift the Mystics past the Mercury. Washington struggled offensively, and although Iriafen’s inside presence kept them within striking distance, the team fell short down the stretch.
The Mystics will look to bounce back when they face Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at CFG Bank Arena on May 28. All eyes will be on Iriafen once again—not just to see if she can continue her historic start, but to witness the rise of a new star in the WNBA.
Paige Bueckers’ Sudden Dip in Performance vs. Iriafen’s Rise
In her final season with UConn, Bueckers was nothing short of spectacular, averaging 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Her leadership and clutch performances helped the Huskies secure their 12th NCAA championship, cementing her status as a college basketball icon.
So when the Dallas Wings selected her with the No. 1 overall pick, expectations were sky-high.
However Bueckers appears to be having a rough start to her WNBA journey. Through her first four games, she’s averaging 13.0 points and 6.3 assists, with a 33.3% success rate from beyond the arc.
While not poor numbers by any means, they fall short of the dominant performances fans witnessed in college. As mentioned previously, Bueckers might envy Iriafen’s rising profile. But that sentiment stems more from how well Iriafen is playing rather than any true rivalry.
Iriafen’s paint presence and consistent rebounding have made her a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year Award, an honor many initially believed Bueckers would easily capture. Iriafen’s 51% shooting and 11.2 rebounds and 13.8 points per game highlight her immediate impact.
Still, it’s just four games into Bueckers’ pro career. She may still be adjusting, and there’s time to turn things around. She’ll next face the Connecticut Sun on May 27.
