Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen has been named the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month for May, the league announced earlier this week. Iriafen becomes the first player in Mystics franchise history to receive the honor.
In her first month as a professional, Iriafen averaged 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. She ranked third among all WNBA rookies in scoring and led them in rebounding. Her 10.1 boards per game also ranked fourth overall in the league, and her 4.3 second-chance points per game were the second-most in the WNBA.
Kiki Iriafen is the first Mystics player to average at least 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds on 47.0% shooting or better in a single month since Crystal Langhorne in July 2010 (minimum five games played). She also joins an elite group of just four rookies in league history to hit those marks in a month—becoming the first to do so since Tina Charles in 2010.
Double-double machine 💪 Kiki Iriafen is your Kia #WNBA Rookie of the Month after averaging 13.9 PPG & 10.1 RPG for the Mystics! pic.twitter.com/KjFMfOqTFK
— Double Take Sports (@dbltakesports) June 4, 2025
Between May 18 and May 25, Iriafen logged four consecutive double-doubles, making her the first Mystics rookie to accomplish the feat. She is only the second rookie in WNBA history to record four double-doubles in her first five career games, joining Natalie Williams (Utah Starzz, 1999). Her four double-doubles in May tied for the most in the league and led all rookies.
Iriafen scored 10 or more points in all seven of Washington’s games in May and became one of just six players in WNBA history to average at least 10.0 points and 10.0 rebounds through the first seven games of their career. She joins an exclusive list that includes Tina Charles (2010), Candace Parker (2008), Cheryl Ford (2003), Natalie Williams (1999), and Yolanda Griffith (1999).
The rookie also became the fastest in Mystics history to record 50 points and 50 rebounds, reaching the milestone in just five games.
A California native, Iriafen was selected with the 4th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Through the start of June, she is averaging 14.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 51.7% from the field in 28.2 minutes per contest.
Her performance has been a bright spot for the Mystics and marks the beginning of what looks to be a standout WNBA career.