If there has been one constant bright spot for the Dallas Wings this season, it is Paige Bueckers. The UConn product has shouldered the load for her WNBA team and done it with flair. Averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, she has been nothing short of outstanding. The LA Sparks game was the crown jewel of her debut season, scoring 44 points. She alone amassed 50 percent of her team’s score.

Performances like that highlight just how essential Bueckers is to the Wings. Many would argue she has already established herself as the front-runner for Rookie of the Year. Yet not everyone is convinced. WNBA analyst Caroline Fenton still gives the edge to Washington Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen over Bueckers in the ROTY race.

This admission from Fenton came during her sitting with Cassandra Negley as the duo picked their favorites for the 2025 WNBA season awards. “She [Kiki] leads the Mystics in rebounds with eight and a half per game. I mean, Kiki has been so incredibly consistent. And you know, if you ask me this question, who would be my pick today? Of course, things are always subject to change, but I would pick Kiki.” Fenton declared.

Currently, only Kiki Iriafen and Paige Bueckers have won the Rookie of the Month honors. Iriafen won in May, and Bueckers swept the subsequent months. But Fenton defended her pick, claiming she is not picking the Washington Mystics rookie just to sound different. “If you just compare the stats, the stats aren’t everything. I don’t want to be, you know, just a box score scout because there are so many more elements beyond just the box score,” said the WNBA analyst.

On paper, Paige Bueckers and Kiki Iriafen have a very different playstyle. The Wings’ rookie thrives on offense, consistently breaking down opposing defenses. The proof? In her last 10 outings, she has scored at least 15 points each time while also facilitating plays for her teammates. Her scoring prowess has even earned her the nickname Paige Buckets, a fitting play on her last name. While Bueckers makes enemy territory her playground, Iriafen makes it equally daunting to score on the defensive end.

The Mystics have found a gem in their rookie, who is already leading the team with 8.6 rebounds per game. For fans keeping track, that pace puts her in striking distance of Angel Reese’s rookie record of 446 boards in just 34 games. Iriafen isn’t far behind either, stacking up 301 rebounds in 35 outings. Her defensive duties have not slowed her offense either, as she’s giving her team 12.7 points per game. Between May 18 and 25, she became the first rookie in franchise history to put up four straight double-doubles. Even more, she joined Natalie Williams as only the second rookie ever to notch four in her first five games.

“Her [Kiki] defense has been her calling card rather than her scoring ability. And her scoring ability has still been incredibly impressive,” said Fenton about Kiki’s 2025 performance. These stats pose a strong case for Iriafen to get the Rookie of the Year title. And there is still one more factor working in her favor that could give her the edge over Bueckers.

Kiki Iriafen can topple Paige Bueckers’ ROTY dreams

Undeniably, the Wings rookie is the frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race. Some fans are even comparing her run to Caitlin Clark’s 2024 campaign. And just like last year, the postseason push will play a decisive role in the ROTY pick. At present, Washington (.457) and Dallas (.250) sit in tenth and eleventh place in the standings, yet Iriafen’s Mystics hold a far better chance of sneaking into the playoffs than Bueckers’ Wings.

That edge could be enough to flip the script in Iriafen’s favor. The Mystics have nine games remaining and carry momentum, having won three of their last five. On the other hand, Dallas has dropped four of its last five outings. But what lies ahead for them is even more daunting. Of their eight remaining games, five are against teams currently in the league’s top four. And the Wings are offering Bueckers little to no support. Her recent 44-point explosion accounted for more than half of Dallas’s 80 total points, yet they still fell to Los Angeles by one point. Even her brilliance has not been enough to mask the struggles of a team that appears to have surrendered its postseason hopes.

The rookie guard herself isn’t celebrating individual milestones. After that 44-point outing, she was asked where it ranked among her career highlights despite the loss. Bueckers’ response was blunt: “I mean, I’ve always prided myself and the team on winning. So, that’s obviously the main goal.” With the Wings’ playoff chances all but gone, her focus remains team-first. But the ROTY title may be the biggest prize left on the table.