WNBA rookies look for strong finish to the first half of the season

Paige Bueckers leads all rookies in points, assists and steals per game. | Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

A WNBA-record three rookies will be participating in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 19.

All three of them—the Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers and the Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen—are in action on Sunday. A number of other first-round selections are also taking the court, looking for a strong finish to the first half of their debut seasons.

The headliner, of course, is Bueckers, the 2025 Rookie of the Year favorite who will face off against the 2024 and 2023 Rookies

of the Year winners in Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston when the Wings visit the Indiana Fever (ABC, 1 p.m. ET).

Lately, Bueckers and fellow rookies Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly have been tasked with trying to carry the Wings to wins, as injuries sidelined Arike Ogunbowale (thumb) and DiJonai Carrington (rib), in addition to the still-absent Maddy Siegrist (knee). After an inspiring upset of the Phoenix Mercury, Dallas has dropped two-straight games, with the overburdened rookies experiencing understandable struggles.

https://t.co/lHFemG1AIO pic.twitter.com/Lb15hzA8ZQ

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) July 4, 2025

Ogunbowale is probable to return on Sunday afternoon, giving the Wings some extra scoring firepower against a Fever side that is coming off an explosive offensive performance against the Atlanta Dream. To escape Indy with a win, the Wings still will need a lot from their rookies, beginning with keeping the ball in Bueckers’ hands and allowing her to dictate the Dallas offense, determining whether she can most positively impact the action as a playmaker or scorer. For James, it’s definitely about her scoring punch, while Quinerly can provide high-pressure point-of-attack defense that can induce turnovers from Indiana.

Here’s a quick look at three other rooks who could influence Sunday’s WNBA action:

Te-Hina Paopao (Atlanta Dream)

Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images

Te-Hina Paopao.

Most likely, 2016 Rookie of the Year Breanna Stewart and 2022 Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard will assume starring roles when the New York Liberty welcome the Dream (3 p.m. ET, League Pass).

But to beat the Liberty for the second time this season, the Dream could use a 3-point shooting show from Te-Hina Paopao. After tallying three 16-point performances in a four-game span in mid-June, fueled by electric behind-the-arc efforts, Paopao’s minutes have dwindled, and she hasn’t made a 3 since that final 16-point game. However, one of her hot shooting games came in Brooklyn, when she went 4-for-5 from deep. Possibly, a return to Barclays can reignite the rookie from South Carolina.

Leïla Lacan (Connecticut Sun)

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Leïla Lacan.

The Connecticut Sun’s late-arriving rookie, Leïla Lacan, has instantly become a fixture in the rotation, an encouraging indication of the organization’s focus on prioritizing the future, even if 2010 Rookie of the Year Tina Charles is still capable of unleashing an epic double-double.

When Charles dropped 29 points and 11 rebounds in the Sun’s skid-snapping win over the Seattle Storm, the team was actually game-high 19 points during Lacan’s minutes. Thus far, her stats may not pop, but she looks comfortable on the WNBA court, whether she is taking an open jumper, tossing a nifty pass, driving to the hoop or grabbing the board and starting the break. Against a poor Los Angeles Sparks defense that is prone to giving up fastbreak points, Lacan could provide the impact needed to help Connecticut avoid another losing streak (6 p.m. ET, League Pass).

Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm)

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Dominique Malonga.

After the Storm selected Dominque Malonga at No. 2 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Mystics snagged their All-Stars in Citron and Iriafen at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.

Yet, even if the steady and sharpshooting Citron or the more offensively polished Iriafen would likely be helping the Storm more this season, Seattle should have no regrets about picking Malonga. The bursts of star-power play should be more than enough to satisfy any anxious Storm fans. While she is still figuring out how to harness her talents on the WNBA court, the moments when it all comes together are momentum-swinging, indicative of an upside that could exceed that of every other player in the 2025 draft.

For now, the Storm will take a few of those moments on Sunday. Otherwise, they’ll likely rely on 2012 Rookie of the Year Nneka Ogwumike to lead the team to a second-straight home win over the visitors from DC (6 p.m. ET, League Pass).

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Game information

Dallas Wings (6-15) vs. Indiana Fever (10-10)

When: Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m. ET

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN

How to watch: ABC/ESPN+

Atlanta Dream (12-8) vs. New York Liberty (13-6)

When: Sunday, July 13 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY

How to watch: WNBA League Pass

Connecticut Sun (3-17) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (6-14)

When: Sunday, July 13 at 6 p.m. ET

Where: crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

How to watch: WNBA League Pass

Washington Mystics (10-10) vs. Seattle Storm (13-8)

When: Sunday, July 13 at 6 p.m. ET

Where: Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA

How to watch: WNBA League Pass

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