“Kitron” Gold and a Playoff Push: Mystics Resume WNBA Season
In most professional cases, people don’t need to be friends with their co-workers, but when you play a team sport like basketball, the added chemistry can produce dividends on the floor.
Mystics sophomores Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron model how any basketball team wants a young, talented duo to interact.
The duo that fans have dubbed “Kitron”, a combination of Kiki and Citron, share getting drafted in the same class, back-to-back All-Star appearances, and a recent Gold Medal in Berlin with Team USA during the World Cup.
“As much as I joke, I truly love Sonia and I love that we’re able to accomplish all of these big milestones together”
Wednesday at Mystics practice, I asked Kiki about sharing that moment in Berlin with Sonia, to which Kiki jokingly said, “I can't get rid of her”.
Kiki then went on to add it is great that they can share milestones together, and in regards to the World Cup Kiki added that it was “nice when you’re in a new room but you have someone you’re familiar with”.
The good vibes even extended past Team USA as Kiki went on to praise teammate Alicia Florez, who competed for Spain in the tournament, another marker of the connection this roster has built.
Looking Forward:
As the WNBA season resumes, “Kitron,” who make up two-thirds of the “CIA” (yes, more nicknames, please keep up) big three, including Shakira Austin, are anchoring the Mystics' playoff ascension this season.
With only 4 regular-season games to go, the Mystics will likely finish between the 6th and 8th seed based on remaining team schedules, but can still mathematically finish as high as the 3rd seed with plenty of help.
A finish at 6 most likely sets up a matchup against the Aces(1-2), Dream (2-1), or Fever (1-1), and a finish at 7 or 8 likely sets up a matchup between the Lynx (2-1) or Valkyries (1-2).
However, the seeding can still dramatically change, so the Mystics’ identity they’ve built over the course of this season will be a huge part in any potential matchup as they can find ways to compete with any team left standing.
Regardless of the regular-season result, the Mystics can compete with any team in the playoffs, anchored by their defense and league-leading 37.5 rebounds per game.
Plenty of fun basketball remains for one of the best teams in the W.
Stay tuned for more on District of Buckets.
