Sonia Citron is a rising name in professional women’s basketball whose career has developed rapidly from college standout to WNBA All-Star and USA Basketball player. The 6-foot-1 guard from Eastchester, New York, built her reputation at Notre Dame before entering the professional ranks as the third overall selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Selected by the Washington Mystics, Citron made an immediate impression during her rookie season and continued to improve in her second year. Her ability to score efficiently, defend, rebound, and create opportunities for teammates has made her one of the more versatile young guards in the league. By 2026, she had already earned her second consecutive WNBA All-Star selection and received an opportunity to represent the United States at the senior international level.
Quick Information Table
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sonia Citron |
| Date of Birth | October 22, 2003 |
| Age | 22 years old |
| Birthplace | Eastchester, New York |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch |
| Position | Guard |
| College | University of Notre Dame |
| WNBA Team | Washington Mystics |
| Jersey Number | No. 22 |
| WNBA Draft Year | 2025 |
| Draft Position | No. 3 overall |
| WNBA Career | Washington Mystics (2025–present) |
| College Career Points | 1,774 |
| 2025 WNBA All-Star | Yes |
| 2026 WNBA All-Star | Yes |
Early Life and Athletic Development
Sonia Citron’s path toward professional basketball began before she became a nationally recognized prospect. Growing up in Eastchester, New York, she developed her athletic abilities through competition at a young age and eventually established basketball as her primary sport. Her development was marked by a combination of size, coordination, court awareness, and a willingness to contribute in different areas of the game. Rather than becoming known only as a scorer, Citron developed into a player capable of defending, rebounding, passing, and making perimeter shots. That balanced skill set became particularly valuable as she moved into higher levels of competition. Her progression eventually led her to one of the most respected college basketball programs in the United States, where she would have an opportunity to develop her game against elite competition.
High School Career and Rise as a Prospect
During her high school years, Citron established herself as a major basketball prospect in New York. Her performances earned significant recognition, and she became the type of player college programs wanted because of her combination of size and guard skills. Standing 6 feet 1 inch, she had a physical advantage over many guards while still possessing the mobility and shooting ability expected from a perimeter player. Her high school development also prepared her for the demands of college basketball, where defensive assignments, ball movement, and decision-making become more demanding. By the time she reached Notre Dame, Citron was viewed as a player with considerable potential, but her college career would ultimately demonstrate that she could turn that potential into consistent production.
Notre Dame College Career
Citron spent four seasons playing for Notre Dame and became an important part of the Fighting Irish program. Across 124 college games, including 107 starts, she averaged 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. She finished her Notre Dame career with 1,774 points, 173 made three-pointers, and 11 double-doubles. These numbers highlight why she was considered more than a traditional scoring guard. She consistently contributed across multiple statistical categories, while her defensive activity gave Notre Dame another way to benefit from her presence on the court. Notre Dame also records her as the only player in program history to reach at least 1,700 points, 700 rebounds, and 300 assists during a career.
Major Achievements at Notre Dame
Citron’s college career included several individual and team accomplishments. As a freshman during the 2021-22 season, she was named ACC Freshman of the Year after making an immediate impact. She later earned First Team All-ACC recognition and became an increasingly important offensive option for Notre Dame. During the 2023-24 campaign, she averaged 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals across 26 games while helping Notre Dame win the ACC Tournament. Her senior season brought additional recognition, including First Team All-ACC and All-ACC Defensive Team honors. She averaged 14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.9 steals during that final college season, giving professional scouts a strong picture of her all-around abilities.
Playing Style and Basketball Strengths
One of the biggest reasons Sonia Citron attracted professional attention is the versatility of her playing style. Her height gives her useful size at the guard position, while her outside shooting allows her to punish defenses that leave her open. She can also attack the basket, move without the ball, rebound from the perimeter, and defend opposing players. Her defensive instincts are especially important because she can use her size and length to make life difficult for opposing guards. At Notre Dame, she demonstrated that she could contribute without needing every possession designed specifically for her. That ability to fit into different offensive and defensive situations has continued to be an important part of her professional identity.
Entering the WNBA With the Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics selected Citron with the third overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, giving her an opportunity to begin her professional career in Washington. Being selected so high reflected the confidence teams had in her ability to transition from college basketball to the professional game. Citron responded quickly. During her 2025 rookie season, she averaged 14.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals over 44 games, starting every contest. She also shot 44.5% from three-point range, which the WNBA lists as the league’s best three-point percentage that season among players meeting the required attempt minimum.
Breakout Rookie Season
Citron’s rookie campaign became one of the strongest early chapters of her professional career. She was named a WNBA All-Star reserve in 2025 and also earned All-Rookie recognition. Her 81 made three-pointers tied the Mystics’ single-season franchise record, while her 657 points established a franchise rookie scoring record. She also became the first rookie in WNBA history to combine at least 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting at least 45% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 85% from the free-throw line during the same season. These achievements showed that her impact was not simply based on volume scoring; her efficiency and ability to contribute in several areas made her especially valuable.
Sonia Citron in the 2026 WNBA Season
Citron took another step forward during the 2026 season. At the time she was selected as a WNBA All-Star reserve, she was averaging a career-best 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. She also earned the Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award and the Associated Press WNBA Player of the Week honor for games played June 15 through June 21, 2026. During that stretch, she averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 steals as Washington won three consecutive games. Her performance demonstrated the continued development of her offensive and playmaking responsibilities in her second WNBA season.
Second Consecutive WNBA All-Star Selection
One of the most significant milestones in Citron’s young career came when she was selected as a 2026 WNBA All-Star for the second consecutive season. The achievement was notable because she reached the All-Star level in each of her first two WNBA seasons. Citron and teammate Kiki Iriafen also became the first teammates since 1999 to earn All-Star recognition in each of their first two professional seasons. Her second selection confirmed that her rookie success was not a temporary breakthrough. Instead, she had continued improving and had become a major contributor for Washington. The WNBA’s 2026 All-Star roster lists Citron as a 6-foot-1 guard for the Mystics with two All-Star selections.
USA Basketball Career and International Opportunity
Citron’s basketball development has also included success with USA Basketball. Before reaching the senior national team, she represented the United States at youth international levels, including the gold-medal-winning USA U16 team in 2019 and USA U19 team at the 2021 FIBA World Cup. In 2026, she was added to the senior USA Basketball roster for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. She went on to make her senior international debut during the tournament and helped Team USA win the gold medal. The achievement added another major milestone to a career that had already included college success, a high WNBA draft selection, and two All-Star appearances.
What Makes Sonia Citron Important to the Mystics?
Citron’s value to the Washington Mystics comes from her ability to influence games in multiple ways. She can score from outside, attack defensive gaps, create shots for teammates, and contribute defensively. Her progression from a promising rookie to a second-year All-Star also gives Washington an important young player around whom the team can continue developing. Her increasing production suggests that she is becoming more comfortable with professional defenses and the physical demands of the WNBA. Rather than depending on a single specialty, Citron brings a combination of scoring efficiency, playmaking, rebounding, and defense. That versatility gives her coaching staff flexibility and makes her a difficult matchup for opposing teams.
Final Thoughts
Sonia Citron’s career has moved quickly, but her rise has been built on several years of development and consistent performance. Her Notre Dame career established her as an accomplished all-around guard, while being selected third overall by Washington gave her the platform to begin her professional journey. She followed that opportunity with an impressive rookie season, an All-Star appearance, All-Rookie recognition, and several Mystics records. Her second consecutive All-Star selection in 2026 and senior USA Basketball debut added even more important milestones, and she helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. At only 22 years old, Citron remains in the early stages of her professional career. If she continues developing her scoring, playmaking, and defensive skills, she has the foundation to become an increasingly influential player in the WNBA and international basketball.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Sonia Citron?
Sonia Citron is an American professional basketball guard who plays for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA. She played college basketball at Notre Dame before being selected No. 3 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She became a WNBA All-Star in both 2025 and 2026.
2. How old is Sonia Citron?
Sonia Citron was born on October 22, 2003, making her 22 years old in 2026. She is listed at 6 feet 1 inch and plays the guard position for Washington.
3. Which college did Sonia Citron attend?
Citron attended the University of Notre Dame and played four seasons for the Fighting Irish. She finished with 1,774 career points and became the only player in Notre Dame history to record at least 1,700 points, 700 rebounds, and 300 assists.
4. Which WNBA team drafted Sonia Citron?
The Washington Mystics selected Sonia Citron with the third overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She made an immediate impact as a rookie, earning All-Rookie recognition and her first WNBA All-Star selection.
5. Has Sonia Citron played for Team USA?
Yes. Citron represented the United States at the U16 and U19 levels before joining the senior national team. In 2026, USA Basketball added her to the senior roster for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, marking her senior USA Basketball debut.
