Despite a heartbreaking end to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s 2024–2025 campaign in the Sweet 16, one thing was clear: Sonia Citron was the heartbeat of that squad. The 21-year-old shooting guard stood out all season with her polished play and fierce consistency, averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Her relentless work ethic and poise under pressure helped elevate the Irish through the tournament. Now, she is taking her talents to the WNBA as the No. 3 overall pick by the Washington Mystics. While Citron was lighting up the court, she also found success off it—in the form of a blossoming relationship with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau.
Who Is Marist Liufau? And How Did Their Story Begin?
Citron and Liufau first crossed paths at the University of Notre Dame, where both were standout athletes. Citron, a key women’s basketball team player, and Liufau, a powerhouse linebacker for the football squad, bonded over their shared experiences as student-athletes balancing pressure, performance, and public attention.
While they never officially announced their relationship, it can be speculated that they are in their third year. A year back in January, Citron made an Instagram post celebrating two years of their relationship with the caption, “Two with you🩷.”
Liufau, a Hawaii native, has made waves with his powerful presence on the football field. After a strong career at Notre Dame with 117 total tackles, the 6-foot-2 linebacker transitioned to the NFL in 2024, joining the Dallas Cowboys as an 87th overall selection in the third round, a move that turned heads and put him in the national spotlight.
MORE: 3-Round 2025 WNBA Mock Draft
Liufau wrapped up an impressive college career at Notre Dame in 2023, playing in 39 games and earning a starting spot in 28. That season, he was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Butkus Award and was recognized as Notre Dame’s Defensive Player of the Game in their matchup against Navy.
Interestingly, Liufau is three years older than Citron. The two often show subtle nods to one another on social media—whether it’s a congratulatory message after a game or a quick snapshot from a rare day off. As Citron starts her WNBA career and Liufau makes his mark with the Cowboys, their story is only just beginning.
Liufau was there to support Citron as her WNBA dream became a reality, hugging his girlfriend right after her name was called.
The Washington Mystics select Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron at No. 3 — and hugs her boyfriend, NFL linebacker Marist Lealofi Liufau
Holly Rowe jokes he was drafted after Citron in the NFL draft pic.twitter.com/VhIgBHjrhu
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) April 15, 2025
As for Citron, she established herself right away as a freshman at Notre Dame by averaging 11.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Her remarkable play resulted in her winning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year recognition. She improved her performance during her sophomore year by becoming the team leader in scoring with 14.7 points each game, thus securing her place on the All-ACC First Team.
Her junior year showed substantial growth through her statistics of 17.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. During her last year as a student-athlete, she continued delivering excellent results by scoring an average of 14.1 points and bringing down 5.4 rebounds per game.
Now, she will look to duplicate her success in the WNBA as a cornerstone for the Mystics.