Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron among the Rookies featuring at 2025 WNBA All Star Weekend!

For the first time since 2011, three rookies will be playing in the WNBA All-Star game together.

Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend will be played on Saturday night and we will witness some top-class performances in Indianapolis. Apart from the big names, three rookie players are also participating in the All-Star game. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron are among the All-Star Weekend’s most notable participants. For the first time since 2011, three rookies will be playing in the WNBA All-Star game together.

This year’s WNBA All-Star will be played in same one-game format but teams are named after the famous players, Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier. Unfortunately, Caitlin Clark will miss out the event due to an ongoing groin injury. She will be inn stands to cheer her team but will not participate in the All-Star Weekend. Clark was the rookie player of the year in 2024 and played WNBA All-Star as the rookie player where her team emerged victorious.

Also Read: Is Caitlin Clark playing in the WNBA All-Star Game? The Indiana Fever Star shares worrying update!

Rookies featuring at 2025 WNBA All Star Weekend

Three rookie players got a chance to participate in the WNBA All-Star Weekend and first name is Paige Bueckers. Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and the Wings guard proved why she is going to be the next big thing in the league. She earned her first WNBA All-Star selection in her debut season and it’s always a special feeling for a rookie player.

“It feels surreal to be in this position,” Bueckers said, via WNBA on X. “Everything that’s happened in the last year, I’ve just been extremely grateful for. Feel extremely blessed to be here with the best players in the league. Just trying to soak it all in and enjoy it as much as I can.”

Bueckers is averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game through her first 18 outings. Her team is struggling to remain consistent in the league with a terrible record of 6-17 but former UConn student stole the limelight in her debut season. In the absence of Clark, the Wings guard will grab all the attention along with Angel Reese.

For the first time since 2011, 3 rookies will be playing in the All-Star game together ⭐️

This is just the 5th time in league history that 3 or more rookies have been named All-Stars in the same season

Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have stood out in their first… pic.twitter.com/MXhdgAPG3K
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 6, 2025

Sonia Citron is the another rookie player, who produced some excellent performances since getting picked as the No. 4 in the WNBA draft by Washington Mystics. Citron admitted that she was “shocked” to be voted into the game, but is “grateful” for the opportunity.

“It’s a shock; I still don’t think it’s hit me,” Citron said. “It’s an amazing feeling. I’m really grateful for this opportunity and this experience.”

Kiki Iriafen is the third rookie player to feature in the All-Star weekend. Iriafen was also picked by the Mystics in the 2025 WNBA draft. She is averaging 11.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Both rookie stars were nominated over teammate Brittney Sykes, who is averaging 17.1 points and 4.4 assists per game.

Paige Bueckers will start for Team Napheesa Collier and Citron will come off the bench for Team Caitlin Clark. Iriafen is also in the reserved players for Team Clark. It will be a classic rookie battle between Bueckers and Citron.

Will Paige Bueckers Participate in 3-Point Contest?

WNBA All-Star Weekend will kick off with a most popular event, the 3-point contest. Caitlin Clark would have played her first 3-point contest but she missed out due to injury. Paige Bueckers will be in action in the WNBA All-Star game but she will not participate in the three-point contest. Sonia Citron will be the only rookie player to join the 3-point contest.

3 point shootout is about to go crazy!!! ⁦@WNBA⁩ #wnbaallstar2025 pic.twitter.com/4XOgScLQJH
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) July 15, 2025

Here are the participants of the 2025 WNBA 3-Point Contest:

Sonia Citron – Washington Mystics
Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
Allisha Gray – Atlanta Dream
Sabrina Ionescu – New York Liberty
Kelsey Plum – Los Angeles Sparks

Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Paige Bueckers

Sonia Citroen

WNBA All-Star

Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.