Image Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year: Paige Bueckers and Sonia Citron Fight Out to Join Caitlin Clark in the List

Paige Bueckers and Sonia Citron are frontrunners to win 2025 WNBA ROTY Award.

Image Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

The 2025 WNBA season is approaching its end, and who will be the top eight teams isn’t the only subject of discussion among fans. The race of various honors, including the Rookie of the Year is taking center stage. In the beginning of the season, several young female basketball players came off bright collegiate careers, hoping to make a mark for themselves in the professional world. Among them, two players stood the test of time and emerged as top favorites to bag the title- Dallas Wings’ guard Paige Bueckers and Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron.

Paige Bueckers, the overall No. 1 has been a favorite since the beginning of the season. In fact, she entered the season with preseason odds of -375 to win the title, according to BetMGM. Currently, she has overwhelming odds of -5000 to come on top of the battle. Bueckers, who entered her freshman season on the back of a championship season in the NCAA, made 32 appearances for the Wings this season. In those games, she posted an average of 18.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

FOURTY. THREE. POINTS.

Rookie Paige Bueckers is the first WNBA player this season to reach the 40-point mark!

DAL-LAS | League Pass https://t.co/cQdq20ZGFy pic.twitter.com/4THKhZLqln
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 21, 2025

She is leading the Wings across three statistical categories, including scoring, assists and steals. This is not it! Bueckers earned applause from several pundits and fellow players. Recently, UCLA Bruins star Kiki Rice claimed that Bueckers is the deserving candidate for the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award this season.

“It’s just clear. She’s Rookie of the Year. There’s no question.”

Paige Bueckers put an exclamation point on what has already been a historic first-year campaign with 44 points Wednesday night on 81% shooting (17/21 FG). pic.twitter.com/mRyI2fX5Q5
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 21, 2025

She spoke to Sports Illustrated and said, “I think Paige will get it, and I think she deserves it. She’s had a great year. Sonia’s been playing really well, too, but Paige—she looks like a five-year vet out there… I catch myself like, wait, she’s a rookie? What’s going on here? She’s so comfortable, and she looks amazing.” While the former UConn star couldn’t guide her team to a postseason berth this season, her individual performance speaks volume about her skills and capabilities.

Who Deserves Rookie of the Year Award More? – Paige Bueckers or Sonia Citron

While Paige Bueckers has established herself as a strong candidate for the award, Sonia Citron is one name which has given a tough fight to the Wings’ guard. The third overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Citron has emerged as a fierce challenger. She appeared for the Mystics in 41 games and is averaging 15.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. She is shooting 47.3% from the field and 43.9% from the three-point range.

Sonia Citron recorded her 36th game of the season scoring in double-digits vs. the Sparks. She had 12 PTS, 3 AST, 3 3PM & 2 STL 🚨

She passes Caitlin Clark for most such games by a rookie in WNBA history!#WelcometotheW

Postseason Push | @DraftKings pic.twitter.com/0srpAcQDHu
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 1, 2025

Not only this, but Citron is also leading the 2025 rookies in scoring with 620 points in 41 games. In the list of rebounds, she sits fourth among rookies with a total of 164 rebounds, second and fourth, respectively in assists and steals. The Notre Dame alum has an edge over Bueckers with 47.3% field goals, 43.3% three-point shots, and 88.0% shooting from the free throw line. According to BetMGM, she is second-favorite to win the ROTY title at +2500 odds.

A new franchise rookie season record for threes 👌

Sonia Citron notches another record in the books 📚 pic.twitter.com/Vm5MrCMEWy
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 1, 2025

Similar to Bueckers, even Citron couldn’t manage to guide the Mystics to a postseason berth. No doubt the 21-year-old has proven herself as a versatile player, who is highly regarded for her athleticism, but Bueckers’ popularity and dominance may sway away voters.

In conclusion, it can be said that both players have put in their best performance in the rookie season. However, considering data and stats, Paige Bueckers emerges clear favorite to take the title home.

2025 WNBA

Paige Bueckers

Sonia Citron

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.