Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen on Adjusting to the W, the Value of Good Vets, and Staying Grounded

Summary

Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird: Episode Summary Episode Title: Sonia Citron and Kiki Iria on Adjusting to the W, the Value of Good Vets, and Staying Grounded
Release Date: July 18, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of Bird’s Eye View, host Sue Bird teams up with Megan Rapinoe to sit down with two standout rookies in the WNBA: Sonya Citron and Kiki Iria. Drafted third and fourth respectively, Sonya and Kiki are making significant impacts with the Washington Mystics, showcasing maturity and skill beyond their years. The conversation delves into their transition into the WNBA, the importance of veteran presence, and maintaining a grounded approach amidst early success.

---

Sue's View: Highlights from the Week

Before diving into the main interview, Sue Bird shares her "Sue's View" segment, providing insightful analysis of recent WNBA games and standout performances.

• Asia Wilson's Stellar Performance ([03:00]):
  Sue highlights Asia Wilson's impressive game where she scored 34 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, shooting 75%. She remarks, “Asia always finds a way to get it done in the paint” ([04:15]).

• Chicago Sky's Dominance ([05:10]):
  Focusing on the Chicago Sky, Sue discusses Angel Reese's record-breaking stretch, averaging 13.6 points and 12.8 rebounds, including six games with at least 15 rebounds. Sue emphasizes, “When she can keep that up and the team turns it into wins, it's a good sign” ([06:30]).

---

Main Interview: Navigating the WNBA with Sonya Citron and Kiki Iria

Initial Impressions and Relationship ([01:17] - [05:54])

Sue Bird introduces Sonya Citron and Kiki Iria, emphasizing their chemistry and complementary playing styles. Despite being rookies, both players exhibit a level of maturity and patience that endears them to their teammates and coaches. Sue notes, “Their college experiences have really helped them. They played alongside some top talent, and now in the WNBA, it's all about complementing each other” ([02:20]).

Backgrounds and College Experiences ([08:35] - [12:15])

• Sonya Citron's Journey ([08:35] - [10:03]):
  Sonya discusses her decision to attend Notre Dame over Stanford, drawn by the people and Coach Ivey’s vision to “bring Notre Dame back to what it used to be” ([09:29]). She reflects on playing alongside talented teammates and how that prepared her for the rigors of the WNBA.

• Kiki Iria's Path ([10:23] - [12:15]):
  Kiki shares her experience at Stanford, where she honed her skills under legendary coach Tara Vanderbeke before transferring to USC to return home and compete for a national championship. She credits her mental preparation and working with a mental performance coach for her breakout performance in college ([11:14]).

Draft Experience and Transition to the WNBA ([14:24] - [20:12])

Both Sonya and Kiki recount the uncertainty and anxiety leading up to the WNBA draft.

• Sonya's Draft Anxiety ([14:24] - [18:32]):
  Sonya describes driving herself crazy over draft projections, reassured by her boyfriend’s advice: “God’s got you. Whatever, wherever you're supposed to go, you’re going to go” ([17:24]). Grateful for landing with the Mystics in D.C., she feels “in D.C. for a reason” ([18:32]).

• Kiki's Draft Day ([18:34] - [20:12]):
  Kiki characterizes her draft day as “organized chaos”, experiencing both excitement and nervousness. Upon being selected by the Mystics, she felt “excited but scared” about moving from California. Fortunately, the supportive environment in D.C. quickly put her at ease ([19:07]).

Adjusting to the WNBA: On and Off the Court ([20:13] - [36:56])

• Playing with Veterans ([24:11] - [27:05]):
  Sue and the rookies discuss the influence of veteran players like Steph and Candace, who provide mentorship and foster a supportive locker room culture. Kiki praises Steph for being “the mama of the locker room” and a valuable mentor ([47:39]).

• Training and Development ([28:14] - [44:25]):
  The importance of continuous learning is emphasized, with Sonya highlighting her work with Coach Clinton Crouch on shooting and defensive techniques ([44:25]). Kiki discusses her training with Coach Barb Turner, focusing on defensive disruption and mental preparedness ([46:21]).

• Handling Early Success and All-Star Selections ([49:08] - [56:02]):
  Both rookies express humility and surprise at being selected as All-Stars, attributing their recognition to consistent performance and teamwork. Kiki mentions, “I was not expecting to be an All-Star, but it was validating” ([53:48]).

Challenges and Future Goals ([34:49] - [61:50])

• Physical and Mental Adjustments ([34:49] - [36:56]):
  Kiki identifies the high basketball IQ of WNBA players as a significant adjustment, while Sonya points to the increased physicality of the league ([35:28]). Both discuss the necessity of mental resilience and adaptability.

• Team Dynamics and Consistency ([48:52] - [49:36]):
  The rookies emphasize the importance of team mentality, supported by veterans like Steph who encourage resilience and focus on the next game regardless of past outcomes ([49:43]).

• Personal and Team Success ([60:56] - [61:50]):
  Looking ahead, Sonya aims to make the playoffs and improve as a player, while Kiki focuses on maintaining joy in her game and becoming a better player overall ([61:46]).

---

Notable Quotes

• Sue Bird on Team Chemistry:
  “They’re both young, but they’re playing with a maturity and patience that goes beyond their years” ([02:20])

• Sonya Citron on Embracing the WNBA:
  “We’re hired to do what we do. We play confidently and don’t fear making mistakes” ([24:30])

• Kiki Iria on Mental Preparation:
  “Basketball is 99% mental and 1% physical. Believing in yourself is key” ([07:25])

• Sonya Citron on Handling Losses:
  “In this league, you can’t get too high or too low. You have to move on to the next game quickly” ([38:14])

• Kiki Iria on Defensive Challenges:
  “The biggest difference is just the level of IQ that they have. They see everything before it happens” ([34:49])

• Sonya Citron on All-Star Recognition:
  “I was not expecting to be an All-Star, but it was validating to know that I’m on track” ([53:48])

---

Conclusion

Sue Bird’s conversation with Sonya Citron and Kiki Iria offers an insightful look into the experiences of two promising rookies navigating their way through the WNBA. From overcoming draft anxieties to adapting to the league’s demands, Sonya and Kiki demonstrate resilience, teamwork, and a relentless drive to improve. Their early successes, supported by veteran mentorship, set a strong foundation for their future careers in professional women’s basketball. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from college to the WNBA, as well as the importance of maintaining humility and joy amidst competitive pressures.

---

Produced by: Together and Vox Media Podcast Network
Producers: Tommy Alter, Jason Gallagher, Richie Bozek, Harry Krinsky, Jess Clarendon, Melanie Carter
Special Thanks: Ramon Dampour
Sponsors: CVS Caremark, Icy Hot, Groons, Salesforce, Mercury

Transcript

[Sue Bird]

Support for this show comes from Pure Leaf iced tea. When you find yourself in the afternoon slump, you need the right thing to make you bounce back. You need pure leaf iced tea. It's real brewed tea made in a variety of bold flavors with just the right amount of naturally occurring caffeine. You're left feeling refreshed and revitalized so you can be ready to take on what's next. The next time you need to hit the reset button, grab a Pure leaf iced tea. Time for a tea break. Time for a pure leaf.

[Megan Rapinoe]

You're basking on a beach in the Bahamas. Now you're journeying through the jade forests of Japan. Now you're there for your alma mater's epic win. And now you're awake. Womp, womp. Which means it was all a dream. But with millions of incredible deals on Priceline, those travel dreams can be a reality. Download the Priceline app today and you can save up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights. So don't just dream about that trip. Book it with Priceline. You both had, like, great opening nights. Were there nerves heading into the first game?

[Sonya Citron]

Yes.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah.

[Sonya Citron]

Oh, my goodness.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Welcome back, everybody. Today's guests are Kiki Iria, Finn and Sonu Citron, two rookies who are already making a ton of noise in the WNBA. Both of them landed in D.C. after getting drafted three third and fourth. They've had something to prove. They're off to a great start. What I think makes them work as teammates is that they're both young, but they're both playing with a maturity and a patience that goes beyond their years. I also think their college experiences has really helped them. They played alongside some top, top talent. And when you get to the wnba, that's all you're doing, right? You're just playing alongside all types of great players. And sometimes it just comes down to who can compliment who. And I think you're really seeing that in their game. Kiki's been a force in the paint since day one. She's physical, polished, and fearless. Sonya, she's like that steady eddy two way guard who just finds a way to get it done. As I mentioned, I've had my eye on both of them for a minute now, watching how they carry themselves, how they compete, how they move off the court, too. And so I had to sit down with them and I was really excited to have this conversation about what it's like stepping into a new league, finding your role, navigating a new city, all of the above. But before that it's time for Sue's view. Okay, so for this week's Sue's view, we're going to start with Asia Wilson. She had a huge game last time out. 34 points, 16 rebounds. She shot 75% in a very gutsy win over the Golden State Valkyries. She was assertive from the start. She was really able to punish the Valkyries in the paint, but what I really noticed was her face up game, her pull up game, that was working too. And in my experience, going against Asia, she's always going to find a way to get it done in the paint. But when her, like from 15 to 18, even from three, when that's working, I mean, it kind of makes her almost impossible to guard. So it was really nice to see that from Asia, mainly because the last time the Aces played, it was against the Liberty. They did lose, but Asia hurt her wrist in that game. So there's a little bit of a question mark on, on just how that was going. So more than anything, it's. It's just wonderful to see her healthy. You know, it was actually also just a really fun game to watch. The final score was like 102 to a hundred, so super high scoring. You had Jackie Young close it out for the Aces, hit a bunch of clutch, clutch baskets, and then you had the Valkyries, who it wasn't just one player. They had a couple different people make some big plays, but they just stayed in it. Even when they were down like six with a minute to go, they still were able to find a way to keep it close. So shout out to them as well, but good to see Asia back and healthy. All right, next up, we've got Chicago. The sky had a big win over the Links a couple days ago. You know, we're going to get to Angel Reese in a second, who's having like a record breaking moment right now. But it was also great to see Ariel Atkins break out a bit. She finished that game with 27, you know, just felt like that's a player that they traded for a player they wanted. So to see her get going, I think is a good sign for the Sky. But you got to take it back to Angel Reese. As well as Camila Cardoza. They both had double doubles as the sky out rebounded the links 45 to 28. Honestly, when I saw that number, my first thought was just like, I don't want to be in the rebounding drills of that links practice. I've been there, I've experienced it. I can only imagine what that's going to be like. Especially because they actually play tonight, which is Monday. Um, but like I said, it's great news that the sky had aerial breakout. But again, you have to talk about Angel Reese. Right now. She's averaging 13.6 points and 12.8 rebounds on the season, but had a stretch of six games where she had at least 15 rebounds. And that's the first WNBA player to ever do that. And the best part, I think, about her performance is along with her teammates, they're starting to turn all this into wins. Right. They're.500 in their last eight games, and Angels had a double double in all of them. And in those eight games, she's averaging 16.3 points and 15.5 rebounds. So it's a lot to do. But if she can keep that up and they keep turning this into wins, it's obviously a good sign. All right, that is it for Sue's view. Now let's get to the interview. Okay, well, welcome to the show, guys. Thank you for coming on. Real quick, I'm just curious, like, how well did you know each other? If I don't know before. Okay, so, zero. So, like, what were your impressions of each other? How about that?

[Sonya Citron]

We played each other our senior year when she was at usc, I was at Notre Dame, and that was the first time that, like, I ever came. Like, I think we ever really came across each other, played against each other. Yeah. And even then, I feel like that game, we didn't really. Like, I didn't guard her once. Like, we were still, like, just not.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, I guess. Why would you guard each other?

[Kiki Iria]

No, thanks.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, almost, like, get away from me kind of a thing.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Oh, interesting. Okay. So you probably only knew, like, what you knew from afar.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

Okay.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So something that I've noticed in watching you guys play, and I'm actually really excited to come to the game tomorrow. I haven't seen you play in person yet, either of you, so that'll be fun. What I've noticed and trying to, like, see, like, what's going on in D.C. like, what with you two. Like, you got off to these great starts. Like, what's complimenting? And I noticed it in college, but I think I'm seeing it even more in the wnba, which is you both have, like, a patience about your games, and you both have a maturity to your games, and so I am curious. Well, first of all, do you agree with that? Is that, like.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, to some extent.

[Megan Rapinoe]

To some extent. I mean, you're still young, but. Oh, no, you definitely. Which part don't you agree with?

[Kiki Iria]

I. I feel like I'm a very exciting player in terms of like, I get super excited when I play, so sometimes I feel like I'm a little sped up. So I feel like for me, I'm still learning this idea of, like, slow is pro, which is what my coaches always tell me is like, once you can, like, go at your own pace and not get sped up is really when you'll be a pro. So I feel like some games I have it, some games I don't. But I'm. That's something that I'm still working on. So for you to say that I'm.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Like, okay, yeah, well, I mean, you're not finished products. You're both like babies in this whole career thing. But no, what I see in Yuki is like, you'll catch the ball, like in a post up position, maybe a double comes. Maybe it's just like a little congested and you're like, I'll kick it right back out. Like you're cool with that. And then trying to repost or trying to maybe, you know, come set a ball screen. Whereas I feel like a lot of young post players especially. But honestly, all post players, when they get that thing, they like to go up no matter what. So, like, that to me, shows patience. I watched when you went on Candace's show and you guys were breaking some stuff down. There was one spot you got, you were posting up. You told your guard, like, no, I need space. Like, move. That's patience. So I feel like that's a maturity. Wait, do you agree about Kiki or no, about you?

[Sonya Citron]

A little bit, yes. I still think that I can get, like, a lot better at it, but just like, I think I play at my own pace, so to some extent, yes.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Well, you're both very humble, so that's also a common ground. Okay, so let's talk about your backgrounds a little bit. Just like where you're from, kind of how you got here. We'll start with you, Sonya, like from New York. You choose Notre Dame. Why?

[Sonya Citron]

I would say the people. It's funny because I was deciding between Notre Dame and Stanford, so there could have been a crossover there.

[Megan Rapinoe]

And you still didn't know each other then either.

[Kiki Iria]

No. Oh, my God.

[Sonya Citron]

And then I found out that she was contemplating coming to Notre Dame, and I was like, what the. Like, that could have been something. But it's okay. It happened now. Just got delayed a little. But yeah, I think it was the people. I talked to Coach Avi when she first got the head coaching job after Muffet retired and all that. And that phone call was, like, it sold the deal for me. And, yeah, I think Coach Ivey is just such a passionate coach, and she really had a vision, and I think she sold me on, like, her wanting me to be part of that vision and really bring Notre Dame back to what it used to be. Yeah. And I just. It was something I wanted to be a part of.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Do you see any similarities between wanting to be a part of that at Notre Dame, like, bringing them back and then maybe even a little bit with the Mystics?

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, for sure. I think. I mean, I didn't think about it, but now that you say that, there's definitely some similarities in just that. Like, I think, again, like, me and Kiki are part of a vision that the coaching staff and the. I mean, all the staff have. And it's really cool to be a part of. Like, to say that you're, like, you have some doing in the team coming back to, you know, what it used to be or just, like, getting it back on the right track is. It's really cool.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. Who. I've heard you talk about being a fan of Sabrina's. Maybe even mentioned Candace Parker before, just, like, her game. Did you. It's one thing to be, like, a fan and, like, watch and, like, look up to. Do you think you, like, modeled your game after those two? Anybody, like, who have you stolen from?

[Sonya Citron]

I don't know if I've really, like, modeled my game after anybody. I think just from watching. I think maybe inherit, like, I've just.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. Osmosis.

[Sonya Citron]

Yes. Like, just, you know, taking bits and pieces from people I've watched. And like I said, like, Sabrina is somebody where. I wouldn't say I, like, really try to model my game after her, but just watching her and seeing what she does, like, I'll just take things where I'm like, oh, this can really apply to my game and how I feel like. And, like, who I am as a player.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Right. Okay. So, Kiki from la, you chose Stanford. What could have been. You never know. You chose Stanford. What I remember from your career there is really not knowing much about you till your junior year. It feels like you hit the scene. Right. And then, of course, you chose to transfer to usc. So I'm curious, A, why'd you transfer? But B, like, what do you think you learned at those two stops that now has, like, followed you?

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah. So kind of, as Sony said, like, I was kind of down to Stanford and Notre Dame, so We were just meant to be, honestly. So God just made it happen a little later. But Stanford was just best of both worlds. Academics, athletics, legendary goat coach, and Tara Vanderbier. So I felt like it was the perfect spot for me to just learn, grow and develop. And it was hard early on because I was behind so many great players. But when I look back on it, I feel like that was so perfect for me because I got to learn, I wasn't working, forced into anything, and I got to kind of take things from them. And then, you know, I graduated early from Stanford, and then I had one more year. Tara was retiring. I'm like, okay, I've had some success. I'm from Los Angeles. I want to go back home, play in front of my family, really have a shot to try to win a national championship. So I feel like that was really the deciding factor in going to usc. They have a great core of young girls over there, and just playing with super talented guards, I feel like was something that I wanted to do, which is what really ended up swaying my decision to go to USC and just be closer to family.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So, yeah, yeah, no, it's a good choice. But what do you think happened, like, from sophomore to junior year? Because that was like a big jump.

[Kiki Iria]

That was a huge jump. I think it was just a shift in my mentality. I was like, this is my junior year. If I don't make something happen, like, there's nothing's really going to happen. It's going to be too late. So I think for me, I always say this, but basketball is like 99% mental and 1% physical. I know I can make a layup. I know I can do these things. But it's really believing it in your mind and believing that you can play at this level. So I did a lot of mental work. So when I went back home in the summer, one of my high school coaches, who is still, like, in my life to this day, like, I would meet with her, like, almost every day, just work on, like, mental practices. And then I'd meet with our sports psychologist and just really get my mind in a spot where, like, I was truly believing myself and having the confidence. So I feel like for the longest, my confidence wasn't where it needed to be in terms of my skill set. And then going into my junior season, I was able to bring that up, and I feel like that's why I was able to have the success that I had.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. Is that something you still do?

[Kiki Iria]

Oh, my gosh.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Sports psychologist.

[Sonya Citron]

Yes.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah, I work With a mental performance coach that I have now. And, like, going into the wnba, I felt like that was super important because you're on a bigger stage, a lot more eyes, and, you know, there are a lot of expectations. So just making sure my mind was in the right place because I'm playing at the highest level was super important to me.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So I love that. I love that you already kind of mentioned playing with, like, really great players, and both of you did in your college days. I also think that's a big part of why you've had the success and impact you've had so far, along with the patient's maturity. You guys are used to playing with top talent, but at the same time, you could argue, you know, for you, at us, well, Stanford, with Cam, then you go to usc, Juju and co, Obviously, for you, Hannah, Olivia and co, Obviously, there's more than that. But you could kind of argue that it might have changed how people, like, judged you or, like, evaluated you. Not judged, like, evaluated you coming out. Right. Like, people didn't really understand, like, the impact you could have. And I'm just curious, like, flying under the radar a little bit, did that give you motivation coming out of college or what was that experience like?

[Sonya Citron]

You go ahead.

[Kiki Iria]

Okay. I think for me, coming into the league, I felt like I didn't have expectations, so that was really helpful. We kind of talked about this, too. Is like, we're rookies coming in on this team, and, like, now we know that we're a huge part of this team. But coming in, we're like, we're rookies. If we play well, great. If we don't play well, like, nobody really expects anything. So I feel like coming in there was kind of, like, this low expectation, and I feel like that was something that was helpful for me. Just, like, I got to get my feet wet. I got to make mistakes without it being anything. And then as you get better, of course, comes with expectation, but that's kind of what you play for. You play to be in those big moments, to have those expectations on you. So I feel like, for me, that was something that helped my transition. Coming in is like, I was kind of under the radar, so whatever I did was just like, oh, that's cool that she could do that.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I mean, by the way, under the radar, like, three and four, third and fourth.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

But still.

[Megan Rapinoe]

But still, yeah, it was the conversation. You could just kind of like, it was like you could feel the way people were, you know, speaking about you guys versus whoever. It felt very much under the radar. What about you?

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, I mean, I would say the same thing. I think if anything, like, especially in college, I. I didn't care. Like, I. If anything, it benefits us. You know what I mean? Like, if you're so worried about, let's say, Liv, Hannah, all these great players, like, go ahead. You know what I mean? Like, I know what I can do. My team knew what I could do. So it was like, again, I think it's. It helped, you know, because, again, flying under the radar, like, teams don't know or they do, but, like, you have so many threats, so who are you going to choose to stop? All right, like, that's cool now. Like, I can do my thing. So, I mean, if anything, it helped me. And I think the same thing that Kiki said, like, coming into the W, I had no expectations whatsoever. Didn't know what. How I was going to do what was going to happen, but just wanted to kind of embrace everything and hopefully, like, have a good year. Like, hopefully just help the team in any way that we can. And it worked out, and it's continuing to work out, but, yeah, really had no expectations.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Well, I mean, I'm not joking. I think playing alongside in the WNBA players can separate themselves with those that can fit on teams. Obviously, you have to bring your games and you guys have. I mean, your stats. It's actually kind of crazy. Looking at your college stats to now, they're, like, pretty similar. You guys are, like, right on pace to, like, be exactly who you are, and that's a skill. People don't talk about it a lot, just being able to be consistent and being able to play alongside other great players. So you're already. You're already, like, ahead of the game in that regard, but you're bringing up the draft or. I brought it up, bringing up the draft. You guys go three and four, respectively. What was the draft experience like? I mean, you had your fits, were on point. You guys were tip tops. But, like, not knowing where you're gonna go, having some idea where you're gonna go. I remember personally, Seattle had the number one pick, and I kind of knew it was gonna be me. And I wasn't thrilled. I'm not gonna lie. I was like, oh, it's so far. I'm an east coast kid. I was like, this is so far. Obviously, it worked out great. I would not change a thing. But initially, you don't know a lot about these teams, about these cities. So I'm just curious, like, what was your vibes heading in?

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, it was Definitely a lot. I think, like, leading up to the draft, I was kind of driving myself crazy with, like, where am I going to go? What's going to happen? And I had, like, so many conversations with my boyfriend who had got drafted the year before, and he was just saying, like, stop worrying about it. Like, one, you have no control over it. Two, God's got you. Like, whatever, wherever you're supposed to go, you're gonna go. So stop, like, thinking, oh, what if you go here? But same thing. I'm an east coast kid. Like, what if I go all the way to Cat? You know what I mean? Just different places. Like, it's not that it's bad, but it's definitely scary.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I looked at Seattle on the map.

[Kiki Iria]

And I was like, wow, I don't.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Think you can get over there.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah. So, I mean, it was just scary. But I think all in all, just, like, remembering that I'm gonna go where I'm supposed to go and everything will work out, like, really helped me. And then, like, now that I'm sitting here, the way it worked out perfectly, like, I just. Like you said, I could not be happier with where I ended up, and I really do believe that I'm in D.C. for a reason, and I absolutely love it.

[Kiki Iria]

So I love that.

[Megan Rapinoe]

What about you, Kiki?

[Kiki Iria]

I would say draft is like organized chaos. Like, there's so many components going on, and the day of the draft, like, the whole weekend, I was, like, excited, a little bit nervous. But the day of the draft, I was like, oh, my God. I felt sick. Like, I was so nervous. Like, you don't. This is, like, something that you've worked so hard for, and you don't know where you're going, and it's out of your control. Which I think is the best part is, like, it's out of your control, so there's really nothing that you can do. But then hearing that I got picked by dc, I was really excited in the moment, but I was kind of scared because I'm from California. I've only gone to schools in California.

[Megan Rapinoe]

We're same.

[Kiki Iria]

Exactly. So going across and being three hours ahead of my family was something that I was really scared about. But from the moment I stepped into dc, our front office, our coaches, the staff, everybody's been great. So I truly feel like this is the perfect spot for me, and I feel like a real adult now. I'm away from home, so I have to learn all these things. I'm paying my taxes, I have to do 401k, so I feel like this is a perfect spot for me to grow up, in a sense. So I think it happened the way. The way it was supposed to happen.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. Something a lot of people don't talk about is that first. I don't know how it happened for you, but the first meeting, one of the first business meetings you have with your team where you have to fill out all those forms, did you have someone help you? So for those that don't know, it's like you got to fill out, how much are you going to give to your 401k? Like, all the tax information that you're going to provide? I was on the phone with my dad. I was like, dad, how do I do this? What is this? Was that like, were you already set up because of your nil experience?

[Kiki Iria]

I mean, at the draft, they kind of had like a whole setup of breaking down the 401k and all of that stuff. And then I think we had individual meetings and we got to the Mystics and like, okay, here's benefits.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So I hooked you up.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah.

[Sonya Citron]

I was just going to say it.

[Kiki Iria]

Needs to be done.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Max out. Max that thing out. That's my only advice. Hey, everyone, Sue Bird here and I'm Megan Rapinoe. Just here to let you know that if you're a fan of Bird's Eye View, you might also want to check out the show we co host, A Touch More. Each week on A Touch More, we give you a front row seat to the world of women's sports. We break down the headlines, the latest news with help from our amazing guests and deep cut stories from our own lives as athletes. To give you a taste, a recent episode I absolutely loved. We just had Chena Gumaque on. We talked all things w allstar. We talked all the things she's doing off the court, which she's doing been doing for such a long time, her production company, she's a commentator. We talked about how she was a big old nerd and she still is, basically. Yeah. We also always talk about how dynamic, you know, female athletes are. And I think all you Bird's Eye View listeners tap into that one. It'll. It'll definitely give you a fix. And this month, episodes of A Touch More are brought to you by Icy Hot, the official pain relief sponsor. So thank you, Icy Hot. And listen, wherever you get your podcasts, honestly, Cheney might need some icy Hot. Talk about those knees. Talk about that back. Knees be kneein' them backs be backin'.

[Hiro]

Fox Creative.

[Pickle]

This is advertiser content from I'm's Pet Food welcome to Cat Chat, the only podcast for cats by cats. My name is Hiro. And I'm Pickle. How have you been Hiro? Honestly, Pickle, I haven't been feeling like myself lately. I've just been so sluggish and I've. Well, I've gotten a little chonky. Can I be vulnerable for a second? Always cat to cat, I was feeling the same way. Let's face it, as we get older, staying active isn't always easy. Did you know over 60% of us indoor cats are overweight? That makes so much sense. But guess what? My human and I made some simple changes. Just two 15 minute play sessions a day helped get my Zoomies back. Plus, she's been feeding me I'm's healthy weight cat food. It's packed with protein and fiber to help me stay full and it's got l carnitine to help support my muscles. I thought you'd been looking fit. Thank you. Thank you. Alright, let's take a break. As always, don't forget to rate, review and knock something off the shelf.

[Kiki Iria]

Today.

[Pickle]

You can help keep your furry friends healthy and thriving with IAMS Healthy Weight Cat food now available online and at your local retailer. Learn [e-mail].

[Sue Bird]

Have you ever been in a different time zone? Several times in a week. It can feel like you're walking in quicksand. Okay, now imagine doing that while trying to get around Cameron Brink or attack Briana Stewart in a drop defense. Or how about chasing Neko Ogwumike around the court? Yeah, you'd feel like crashing out by month two, but that's the job for most of the players in the W. And while it's a dream to be a part of the league, it isn't the easiest thing on the body. Thankfully, Delta Air Lines stepped up to provide the entire WNBA with charter flights to starting from the 2024 season. Now players have the ability to break down film and talk about matchup coverages or do what we all like to do on planes. Eat, sleep and have a good time thinking about our next destination. Because at Delta, they believe there is always more potential to own and help you achieve your own individual version of success. And by investing in the wnba, Delta has directly brought people to their potential by elevating the player experience through the current charter program. So if you want to get to your destination feeling good about yourself, check out Delta. Keep climbing with Delta. Book your next [e-mail].

[Megan Rapinoe]

You both are speaking so highly of your Experience with the Mystics so far, and I don't even think it has anything to do with like the ball and if it goes in the hoop or not. You know, it's just like a feeling and a vibe. So what is it like you first get there, what are your first impressions and what is it about this franchise that's making you feel this way?

[Sonya Citron]

I think it's the people. I mean, we're surrounded by amazing people. Not only like our teammates, our coaching, coaching staff, like she said, our front office. Like everybody, I think is so bought in. And from the beginning, I think, like their belief in us. Like, I, I think I've said this in like every interview, but I think.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Welcome to professional basketball. You have to answer the same questions over and over.

[Sonya Citron]

Like, we're allowed to do what we do because of the people around us. Like, they've really empowered us from the beginning to feel like we can, we can do it, you know, like, don't. We're not afraid of going out, going out there and making mistakes. We just play confidently. You know, we know that they drafted us here to do what we do. So, like we just go out there with no fear. No. Like the coach doesn't get mad at us for making a mistake. As long as we're playing hard and doing what we can control, like, that's. That's all that they care about.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So, so early on, like in the locker room, because coming into this season, right, Mystics make a bunch of moves, get these picks, and it's kind of like, okay, they're. They're trying to build, they're changing things. Whole new coaching staff, front office. They're building, they're building. I don't know if I would call it rebuilding, but somewhere in there. And I'm just curious. I'm always curious because I've experienced rebuild seasons and the messaging of the coach, I think is the most important thing. Front office as well. But that locker room and you guys are going to enter games, how you're going to feel about yourselves, evaluate yourselves individually and as a team. So I'm just curious how Coach Johnson. Do you call him Coach Johnson or is it Sydney Coach? Okay, so I'm curious how coach, how he established, like, what did he establish from the jump?

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah, we have like our five pillars. Four or five. Yeah. Daily habits. And even from training camp, like, we've established them like sisterhood. Getting better every single day, working hard, having humility and joy. Something that's super big on that is like we're going to have Joy. Even through the highs and the lows, like, we can find joy. And that's something that he always refers to even now. But I think something that I was particularly surprised about during training camp was, like, how much it was like, we're competing, but we're sisters and there's humility. And I think coming into the league, you're like, training camp is cutthroat. And, like, there's no friends. But we, like, practice hard, go at each other, and then be like, let's go get lunch together. Like, it was so weird. So I feel like, really he set the foundation in terms of, like, we're gonna go at each other, we're gonna compete, but at the end of the day, we're sisters and we love each other and we're working hard for each other. And that's something that you see, like, sometimes, like, I feel like we play with the power of friendship because we just love each other so much. There's really no egos or competition between one another. So I feel like the messaging just from him that he's super bought in to us. He cares about us as people. Like, during training camp, he had individual meetings and it was nothing to do with basketball. It was like, who are you as a person? What do you like to do? What makes Kiki Kiki? And I feel like that's something that has really translated and why we're all bought into what he has to say.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, no, I love that. But was straight. Was training camp hard?

[Kiki Iria]

Oh, it was hard.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah.

[Sonya Citron]

I definitely got after it.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah.

[Sonya Citron]

But it was just like a. Like a good balance between. Oh. Like, for example, me and Sim are both guards, so we're gonna go at it. But she's also giving me.

[Megan Rapinoe]

She's gonna help.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, giving me advice and helping me out. So it wasn't like, oh, shit, I'm not gonna help her because were competing. It was like a good balance of both. I love that you could just tell, oh, we're going to get after it. But we're all. We're all here for the same reason.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. Interestingly, that's also been my experience, like, my whole career, whether I was young and I was you guys or then I became old and I was slim. Just part of it. Talk to me in 10 years. So there are, of course, some stories that aren't like that, but it is nice for that to be your first experience. But now I kind of want to get into the training camp, like, nitty gritty and just what, like, what immediately jumped out to you? Guys as like, oh, man, I have a lot to learn. Like, what areas? Was there something specific? Because I know training camp, especially with a new team and a new coach, it's so much teaching. It's like teaching the whole time, basically.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah. I would say we also had extra teaching just because our team was so young that it wasn't like we have so many, like, rookies and, and younger players that, like, we. We really did have to teach, like every day.

[Kiki Iria]

Like, they built in, like, classroom time really. And all of us before practice, all the rookies are watching film and going over stuff.

[Sonya Citron]

It was like 45 minutes of just classroom before practice even started. But I would say the hardest thing was definitely just like, concepts, like, especially defensive concepts. I remember thinking like, wow, this was like, not allowed in college.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Do you have, like, an example?

[Sonya Citron]

I gotta think, like, oh, well, like, tagging the roller.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Sonya Citron]

At Notre Dame, like, if you. You absolutely did not tag the ruler.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Really?

[Sonya Citron]

Yes. Like, just little things like that where I, like, had to stop myself, like, oh, shoot. Like, Coach Ivy would yell at me right now for this, but this is actually what they want me to do.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, you gotta like, reprogram.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, and just like reprogramming my mind with just different.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Well, fun little fact on that one. If you start in, you only have to go out.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

If you start out, then you got to go in and out. It's like 10 extra steps. Tagging the roller, for those that are listening, is basically in a pick and roll. When the roller rolls, if there's backside, usually a guard is help side. They like you to get in there and kind of give a little. Give a little something so the roller isn't like, so smooth. Direct line to the basket. But then you got to close back out on your player if they're the one coming around. So it can be hard. So you start it and go out. But yeah, I'd imagine because the college game and the WNBA game, even just by the rules is different. So I'd imagine there was a lot to learn. Kiki, is there anything that. That you. That jumps out to you? Like, everything? Oh, yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

I'm a big.

[Megan Rapinoe]

That like tiptoeing. Getting in, getting out.

[Kiki Iria]

At Stanford, I was in drop coverage most of the time, so I was just sitting in the paint.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Kiki Iria]

And then at sd, they wanted me to play up a little bit more, but I was still kind of in that middle ground. But I cannot stand. Like, I have to get out. So I feel like that's something that I've been learning and sometimes I'm just, like, jumping back and forth. Like, I feel like. But I feel like that was the biggest shift. It was like, this is actually a thing. Defensive.

[Megan Rapinoe]

It's, like, another thing to think about. Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

So that was it for me.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Probably, like, an offense, right?

[Kiki Iria]

Oh, for sure.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I love it on his face. Yeah. So did anything come. Those, like, sound like some of the, you know, just learning curves.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Does anything come easy where it basically actually let me frame what translated from college, like, you came in, you're like, oh, this makes sense.

[Sonya Citron]

I would say for me, I think the way that I play, I love cutting, I love moving, and our offense really translates well for me because it's a lot of cutting. It's a lot of move the ball, switch sides, let's pick and roll. Like, just things like that. And, like, we like to run in transition. Like, I love doing that. So I'd say that came pretty. Like, it was a good transition for me. Yeah. Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

I feel like for me, just running the floor, I feel like that's something that I'm really good at and just, like, like, rebounding and understand that I can score that way. And I don't necessarily have to, like, give me the ball here and do this. Obviously, early in the season as well, and I had VG guarding me. Stewie, Asia, Aaliyah. I was like, it's going to be pretty tough to score. So I was like, let me just run the floor, get some easy baskets that way. So I feel like that was the easiest transition for me and just, like, just run the floor, get the easy layups and get the rebounds.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, that's smart. You both had, like, great opening nights. Were there nerves heading into the first game?

[Kiki Iria]

Yes.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah.

[Sonya Citron]

Oh, my goodness.

[Megan Rapinoe]

What was. So what was pre game? Like, were you just, like, in your earphones, just, like, focus? Were you talking about it?

[Kiki Iria]

We, like, had a conversation about it.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

We were both really nervous, and I think I was super nervous. But after I heard that Sony was nervous, I was like, okay, how can I be less nervous? So she can be less nervous, but I think it's really helpful to, like, go through it with somebody else. And, like, I never felt alone because I'm like, okay, I'm going through it with Sony, and we're very open about, you know, not struggles, but just, like, what's going on? How are we feeling? So I was like, okay, I know she has my back. I have her back, but definitely jitters. Like, I think our first game was against Atlanta, so I'm like, I have to guard BG. BG's guarding me. Hall of Famer.

[Megan Rapinoe]

We want to know what happened over here.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah. Welcomed.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

So I think. But honestly, it was excitement. Like, once the ball was tipped.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. Like, what calmed you? Like, at some point, you must have, like, settled in.

[Sonya Citron]

Once we started playing, it was like.

[Kiki Iria]

Oh, wait, I think it's. Once you make your first basket.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

I wish we both. You made early. Then you're like, okay.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, I'm okay.

[Sonya Citron]

Like, we've been playing this game for our entire lives, so it's. You know, it's. We got it. And we also had played Atlanta, like, the week before. We knew them, so there was some level of comfort. Like, okay, we know this team. They know us. But I think just playing definitely, like, after the whistle, I think I was good. Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So you guys, just to give, like, context, Kiki, you had 14 and four rebounds. Sonia, you had 19. But then, to me, it's your second game that's even more impressive because you backed it up. So it wasn't just, like, opening night excitement. You play well the next night. Kiki, you have 17 and 14. So first double double.

[Kiki Iria]

Let's go.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Sonya, you had 15. Do you guys think, like, you were already gaining some confidence? Like, you're always like, okay, I'm kind of getting a feel for this. I know it's early, so I'm not trying to. But, like, to back it up in.

[Sonya Citron]

Game two, I would say, like, it's. I mean, it's always nice to do well. That gives you some level of confidence. I think it was after the first couple games, though, where I was like, okay, like, I can do this. Because, like, the first game, it was like a. Well, maybe my shots were just falling. Like, I was lucky. Second game, maybe the same thing happened. But, yeah, I would definitely say after a couple, like, it gives you a little bit of confidence.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Definitely.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah. I think after the second game, I was a little bit more settled in terms of, like, okay, I can do this. It'll be okay. But it wasn't until I think when we played the Aces and Slim was out. Like, our whole bench was out. We had to play the whole entire game. I was so sick. And, like, we almost won. Like, we played really well that game. I was like, you're fine. Like, they're just humans. At the end of the day, even though the Aces are amazing team champions, Olympians, like, our coach was literally, like, they have four Olympians and we have four recent grads. Like, that's the dynamic. But I Feel like playing against them and seeing how we were able to compete, it's like, okay, you'll be fine. It's okay.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay. So with, like, the stellar starts that you guys had, what would you say was the biggest. I can start with you, Kiki? Like, just the biggest adjustment. Everybody talks about the physicality. I feel like everybody I have on the show, at some point, this comes up. So I don't put words in your mouth, but what were some of the biggest adjustments? Like, what was like, oh, man, this is. This is harder than I thought.

[Kiki Iria]

I think it's how smart people are. Like, the basketball iq. And for me, obviously, I play. My position is, like, some of the best players. So just, like, going in, Stewie, like, she would literally tell me, like, I'm able to get you on this every single time because of ABC and D. And I'm like, I'm not even thinking about that. But she's already able to see all of that and going against BG in Asia. So I would say the biggest thing is just how smart, like, the level that I want to get to and the level that they are at is, like, how smart they are. Like, they don't have to be the fastest on the floor, but, like, they're able to, like, play at a pace. They're able to see everything happen before it happens. So I was like, the biggest thing is, like, the biggest difference is just the level of IQ that they have. Okay. Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

How about you, Sonia?

[Sonya Citron]

I would say the physicality for sure.

[Megan Rapinoe]

You hold your own, though.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

No, yeah, You're.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I feel like you're starting to figure that part out. Like, how to use your own.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, Yeah. I think it was like, little things that you, like, not, like, blatant physicality. I think it's a little things, like when I'm coming off a pin down and they, like, let's say they're holding or they try and top lock me last second, or just kind of try and get into me so that they get through as well. Just little things like that. Definitely in the beginning, I was like, what am I doing? Like, this is not working out. It worked out a little bit, but not. It was just.

[Megan Rapinoe]

You didn't feel like you could get them off?

[Kiki Iria]

Yes.

[Sonya Citron]

Just, like, my movement, I was like, oh, my goodness, they're everywhere. And then my coaches helped me a lot. Slim helped me a lot. My coaches helped me a lot with just little things to. To do. And it's like, if they're doing that, then there's an easy way to get around that. Like, if they're using their physicality, then set them up or use your body or stop and go. Make them fall. It's just like little things like that where I'm, like, slowly starting to get, like, the knack of.

[Megan Rapinoe]

But what about off the court? You're adults now. You just said you're away from home. I mean, you've been away from home, but you're on your own. Like, for real. For real. What's been the biggest adjustment off the court? So much more downtime and free time. Like, you come on the road. I'm sure that was an adjustment, too. You get to the trips and they're.

[Kiki Iria]

Like, see you tomorrow. Yes.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, our first trip was crazy. Like, we.

[Megan Rapinoe]

He didn't know what to do.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah. I think our coach said, like, off on the bus before we even got out. He was like, all right, see you guys tomorrow. Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

What about film? What about dinner?

[Sonya Citron]

Dinner Team dinner. Like, what's going on? But, yeah, that was. That was definitely an adjustment. But it's really cool. Like, all this freedom that we have is very nice.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, you really. You really find yourself. It's nice. And you get to do what works for you, especially on a game day. Obviously a pre game and whatnot, but on game days, it's nice. All right, we already talked a little bit about your, like, welcome to the WNBA moment, but I am curious. So for me, my welcome to the WNBA moment had to do more with just, like, losing. I remember we lost our first game, and I remember coming in the locker room, I'm fresh off college, like, Connecticut. Like, we don't lose a lot. You guys don't lose a lot. I come in the locker room, I'm like, throw in a water bottle. I'm pissed. I'm like, what the fuck? And everybody's like, where do you want to go to dinner tonight? Like, what are our plans tonight? And I was like, wait, what? And that was, to me, like, the welcome moment because it was a totally different mindset. You can't get high with the high, low with the lows, all the cliches you can think of, because of the way the season goes and because how close the competition is. So even though I know you got whacked by that BG screen, I'm curious just, like, at what point did you start to realize, like, how. How to operate in this league? Like, what's that welcome to the league moment?

[Sonya Citron]

Go.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah, I don't think I've gotten, like, a hit by a screen or something like that. But I think the losing was really tough, especially because we were so close to games. And, like, I feel like, like, in college, you don't lose a lot. So, like, when you do lose in college, like, your whole day is ruined. So I would be like, what do. I don't even want to do anything. I don't want to go on my phone. I just want to sleep all day. Like, I'm so mad.

[Megan Rapinoe]

And everybody's like, you want to go shopping?

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah. And I think we were in, like, dating. Like, they're like, oh, let's go out. Let's do. I'm like, what? What are we talking about?

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

So I feel like that was just super hard. But the biggest thing or even a performance, if you're not really happy with your performance, like, you can't get so down because you play in 48 hours. And even if you play well, you can't be too high. So I feel like it's really not getting too high or low as you said. And not just to copy what you said, but I think that was the biggest thing, is just like, okay, I'm mad today, and then I gotta move on the next day because everything's happening so quick and everybody's so good. And in this league, it doesn't matter the record. Anybody can be anybody. So. Yeah, similar.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah. I mean, besides my actual welcome to the league movie, I would say I didn't think about it, but what you said is very, very true. Like, I remember. I think I was talking to Kiki and Georgia about it, and I was like, winning and losing is really weird in the W. Because I would think that it was different because it's like your livelihood, your job, like, if you. You know. But in college, like, when you lost, it was like, the worst thing in the world. Like, somebody's practice for, like, a week. Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Like, it was somebody's dog passed away.

[Sonya Citron]

It was so sad. Like, coming into the facility, I was.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Like, yeah, Debbie Downer's everywhere.

[Sonya Citron]

And here it's like. Like you said, we lost. Okay, but we play whatever tomorrow. So it's, you know, we. You know, it's just not as big of a thing. Especially because we are playing in the best league in the world. So it. Like, it. The coaches understand. It happens. Like, this is. You are playing against the best players in the world. So it's. It is what it is.

[Megan Rapinoe]

No, it is an adjustment, though.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

You just brought up Georgia, so I want to touch on her real fast. How's she doing? Good. She's doing well. I was really. I mean, I think everybody was bummed when she got her, but I was really on point guard bias. I was really excited to, like, see how she was gonna do so exciting in college. So what was it like in those early days of training camp playing with her? And I don't know. Cause it's like Shug and Jade are, like, doing their thing at the point guard spot. But, like, what do you think maybe next year? Like, how do you think Georgia will fit in based on what you saw in training camp?

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah, I think before we even get there, like, Georgia is like a coach on the sidelines.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Kiki Iria]

So I feel like that's really gonna benefit her next year because she's able to see, like, things that we're doing well, things that can be better. And she's always talking to me like, I see you running the floor, or, like, talking to the point guards, like, look at this. So I feel like in that regard, it's gonna really help her just being able to see everything from a distance. But even in training camp, she is Energizer Bunny, like, has the best energy. She's always about the team first. Like, really a point guard even in her life. Like, always about how can I help other people? But she was great vibes. Always pushing the pace super, super fast. But, yeah, I feel like she just kept, like, the energy going at all times.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay. Yeah, Yeah, I know. Like I said, Just so bummed. You both have kind of talked about. Yes, Coach Johnson, of course, like, because he's the voice. But I know from a player development standpoint, your coaches have really, like, invested in you, worked with you. So first of all, which coaches are you working with with the most?

[Sonya Citron]

I work with Clinton Crouch.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Kiki Iria]

And I work with Barb Turner.

[Megan Rapinoe]

You work with Barb?

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Lol. Barb and I played together here in Seattle. Yep.

[Sonya Citron]

That's fine.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Obviously, she went to UConn, but I didn't play with her there.

[Hiro]

Support for this show comes from Icy Hot. There's a reason comebacks feel so good. Because there's nothing worse than pain and self doubt. But when you overcome it and get back to doing what you do best, that's the best feeling in the world. You push your body to its limits and discover new ones. It's a satisfying feeling, and it doesn't come for free. Too often, pain gets in the way. Stiff muscles, a kink in your shoulder, or even an old injury that pops back up at the worst time. But we're past letting pain hold us back. Icy Hot offers fast acting powerful pain relief for your joints and muscles post workout. It starts with a cooling sensation that dulls the pain and then a warming sensation to relax it. Ice works fast and heat makes it last. Their formula contains four times the pain relieving ingredient than the leading competitor. Plus it's a no mess quick dry application so you can roll it on comfortably and keep it moving. With Icy Hot, you don't need to let pain stand in your way. You've earned your comeback so you can get back in the game and back to your best self with Icy Hot. You're so back. Buy Icy Hot Original no mess now.

[Pickle]

Support for the show comes from Groons. If you're looking for a new tasty nutrition solution, then look no further than Groons. It's a convenient, comprehensive formula packed into eight daily gummies. Groons is not a multivitamin, a greens gummy or a prebiotic. It's all of those things and then some and it tastes great. In each daily pack you get 20 vitamins and minerals and more than six whole food ingredients. Get up to 45% off when you go to Groons Co and use code VOX that's G R U N S.CO using code VOX for 45% off. Support for this show comes from Salesforce. Today every team has more work to do than resources available, but digital labor is here to help. Agent Force, the powerful AI from Salesforce provides a limitless workforce of AI agents for every department. Built into your existing workflows and your trusted customer data, AgentForce can analyze, decide and execute tasks autonomously, letting you and your employees save time and money to focus on the bigger picture, like moving your business forward. AgentForce what AI was meant to be. Learn [e-mail] Agent Force.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay, so with Clinton, like what's it like having this player development coach that's like focused on you, of course other players too, but focused on you. And what do you think you have already added to your game from some of your workouts with him?

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, well, he's. He's amazing. I think I, I would not be where I am right now without him. I think it's so we do like every day basically. We have like a, a daily vitamin and like I'll watch film with him and then we'll do like 30 minutes of shooting. But not like obviously, you know, like with the schedule we have I'm not really running or like breaking a sweat but it's just like he'll say it's just little things like this where if you if you do this every day, like, it's going to start adding up marginal gains. Yes, it's going to start adding up and you're going to see the difference in the game. And it's just like, he'll teach me again. Like, he was one of the ones that really helped me learn and figure out how to get open or how to use screens or how to stop. Go. Stop. So little things like that that don't seem big but really make a difference and then just adding, like, little moves like, oh, so he'll see, like, what I like to do in the game. And he'll be like, okay, so you like to. You already do this without realizing it. So now we're gonna add a counter. Or now we're gonna add just little things to help me do. Just help me be better, honestly. And then he's also the best just in terms of helping my mental, like, when I get frustrated or when I can't make a shot or I have a bad game. Like, he's the first one to be like, so, you know, like, there's no bad. Like, he told me. Yeah, he told me, like, in the beginning, there's no such thing as a bad game because if you were. If you were good on defense, if you were a good teammate, if you were good at communicating, like, those are all controllable. So you can do that every game. So you can't really quantify a good or a bad game just because you couldn't make shots. Because it's not all about points. Like, as we know. But he's just the first one to be like, stop, you're good. Like, stop caring so much.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay, so I mean, well, it's working. You're the youngest player to record back to back 20 point games in the last decade. Hey, which brings me to you, Kiki. You're working with Barb. What is BT teaching you?

[Sonya Citron]

Oh, my gosh.

[Kiki Iria]

She is great for me and just like transitioning to the W when I had so many things in my head about how would I perform here and just her having so much confidence and belief in me when I didn't really have in myself. So I feel like us working together happened at the perfect time. But I'm a little bit opposite from Sony. Like, I feel like I need to break a sweat like, when I'm working with her. And I feel like that's something that I'm learning is like, you don't always have to do that in order to be more. Exactly. To get something out of it. So that's something that BT is teaching me, that sometimes you don't have to go so hard and just kind of work on the little details. But with her, it's like before every game, watching film and watching film on who's going to be guarding me, how are they going to guard me? Scoring might look differently versus the team that we're playing, which I think is the biggest difference from college, because I'm like, I could just do this every time against whoever I want, but here it's like I have taller defenders, maybe smaller, but they move more like guards or somebody that's stronger than me. I have to get around them. So just understanding what ways I might be able to score that night. And then defensively, I feel like she's challenged me a lot to, like, not playing that drop and really to be up and be disruptive on defense. But she's been someone that's been good for me just in terms of mental and then just getting better on defense. And she's the one that. Who honestly told me, like, slowest pro, like, once you can really get that, like, the sky's the limit for you.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. What about the vets in your locker room? We already mentioned Slim. You've got Steph in there.

[Kiki Iria]

She's great. Steph is that she's been.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Steph did me dirty one year.

[Kiki Iria]

Really?

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. 2022. I was on her hard to come here. She ended up choosing New York. I was very upset about that. But I have so much love for Steph. I loved playing with Steph with USA Basketball, so she's just so easy to play with.

[Kiki Iria]

She's great. And just playing in the post position. Like, during training camp, I'm having to guard Steph, and she's literally, as I'm guarding her is like, guard me this way so you can take it away. And I feel like that's the humility aspect. But we call her Big Mama. She's like the mama of the locker room for us. And even during games, she's always talking to me, helping me out, seeing different things. So just like another coach for me, too.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, you guys. I feel like you guys are really, in a really impressive way, like, grounded in the idea of there's going to be highs and lows and you can't get caught in, but that feels like individual. I'm curious, when you guys are together as a group, is that the mentality of the team also? Because it's interesting, like, you're 11th and you're having a great season, but it's like, you're 11th in offensive rating as a team. You're seventh in defensive rating. You are in the final playoff spot, which is, I'm sure, a goal for you guys to make the playoffs. So you're 500. It's like, there's some good, there's some bad. And I'm curious, like, as a group, are you able to. Do you all have that mentality?

[Sonya Citron]

I think so. I think our vets, like, especially Steph, like, after a bad loss, when we huddle, like, she's the first one to say, you know what? Like, yeah, that sucked. But it. Like, it's like, it's okay. We're going to get back after it. We're going to. We'll be good. Like, let's focus on the next game and get it back. Like, she's the first one to just be like, all right, let's not get too low. Like, yeah, we just lost by whatever, but we're fine. And then, like, we'll come back the next game and then win, you know? So it's. I think we do have the same mentality just knowing that, again, this league is we. There's so many good teams that there's going to be highs and lows, but just staying consistent and knowing what we can do and when we play how we want to play, like, we can be anybody. So.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, I know. I mean, it is. It is a tough league. Which kind of brings us to some of the competition you faced. Who's been. I'm gonna start with defense. Who's been the hardest to guard? Just, like, difficult.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, I know. I asked you yesterday. Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Where you're like, dang, that was hard.

[Kiki Iria]

Stewie, Stewie, Stewie. Like, she can score all three levels, and, like, she's so methodical. Like, she doesn't. Like, that's really the person I'm talking about when I say the IQ level is, like, even if I try to take away the three, she's going to get to the basket. If I stay too far off, she's going to hit the three. So I feel like that was a matchup. That was tough, and we played them twice, and I would say I don't even think she really tried hard, and she still had, like, 20 points.

[Megan Rapinoe]

That's just Stewie.

[Kiki Iria]

Just effortless.

[Megan Rapinoe]

That's how she makes it look. Yeah, this actually is, like. This is. I'm getting the warm fuzzies because Stewie was a rookie in Seattle towards the end of my career, so it's fun to, like, see her grow in those ways and hear you talk about her in that way, so it's really cool. All right, who you got?

[Sonya Citron]

I think I would say Sabrina. The first time we played New York shouldn't stop. Yeah, she definitely burned me a couple times just because I tried to, like, I think she was back screening you. And I, like, tried to hit Stewie a little bit. Couldn't do that because she got the wide open three. Like, just things like that where it's like, she makes you pay or like, I think I tagged on a roller, and I. I didn't.

[Kiki Iria]

That might be one you don't do.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, that might be one you don't leave.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, just things like that. Like, I had to be smarter, and I. I wasn't. And she definitely got the best of me that game.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay, who's been hard to go against? Like, when they guard you? Any tough defenders out there.

[Sonya Citron]

Trying to think of you've played?

[Megan Rapinoe]

You're like, no, I'm good.

[Kiki Iria]

I think Aaliyah Boston was tough the first time we played. I think it was our first ever game in the preseason just because she's so physical and strong. So I'm trying to back her down, and I wasn't getting anywhere, really. So I think that's when I really learned, like, different matchups, different nights. I'm going to have to score differently, maybe facing up more versus backing down. But she was a tough one for sure.

[Megan Rapinoe]

How about this? I'll switch it up for you. You said recently that, Neil, when they were recruiting you, I was like, oh, like, I see a lot of Jackie Young in you. Right. So what was it like to then play her in the wnba?

[Sonya Citron]

It was really cool. Definitely, like, a full circle moment. Because I remember when I first visited Notre Dame, like, they showed me, like, a highlight video of Jackie and was like, we think that this is a really good comparison. Like, this could be you at Notre Dame. And I was like, I felt really honored because obviously Jackie is very, very good player. So I was like, wow, like, they think highly of me. This is really cool. And then getting to play her, definitely a challenge, but it was, again, just. I think it's really cool because I've been watching her for so long and to now say that, like, we're in the same league. I'm playing against each other. I'm playing against her. Like, I have to guard her. It's just, again, just full circle.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, you got. I think it was like, one of the early possessions. You got an and one on her. That must have felt nice. You look like, you were smiling. I don't know if that was why, but it is always fun going against, like, players who went to your college that you didn't play with, but you obviously heard their name, like, time and time again because it's like, that's how programs are. You know, you're always reminded of what. What came before in a really wonderful way. So it's always cool to. To see him in the league and then go against them. It's kind of like you said, full circle moment. All right, we've arrived. It's almost halfway through the season, which means it's almost All Star break. You, too, have been selected as reserves for the All Star Star team. So congratulations on that. Being an All Star as a rookie is like. It's. It's. It's. To me, it's like a very impressive, but it's something that you'll always be able to, like, look back on and like, man, right from the start, I was able to make this All Star team, but it also can, like, change your expectations a little bit for yourself, for the future. So first of all, Kiki, like, were you expecting to be an All Star this year? Was that a goal and has it shifted? Kind of like, oh, how you look at yourself a little bit.

[Kiki Iria]

Definitely was not expecting this at all. Like, I was gonna be an All Star anyway just for, like, brand obligations, but I was not expecting to be an All Star. And then I saw I was, like, in top 10 of fan votes, and I was like, what the heck? Like, this is crazy. And it wasn't until Kathy called me and, like, let me know, and I was like this. Like, there's no way. I think for me, it was really validating just to know that I'm on track to do things that I wanna do, and not that I've made it, but just like, I'm being recognized and being scene. And then to know Sony was. I was more excited that Sony got big than I. I was about myself. But to be able to do it with, like, my teammate, someone that I really care about, is, I think is the most exciting part of all of this. But definitely was not expecting this at all.

[Megan Rapinoe]

You happy about your team?

[Kiki Iria]

I'm. I'm glad I'm with Sonya.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah. You guys can do it together?

[Kiki Iria]

Yes.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Is there anybody you're, like, looking forward to playing against? Have you guys played every team yet in the league?

[Kiki Iria]

We haven't played Seattle or la.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Sonya Citron]

Are those the only two teams?

[Kiki Iria]

I think so, yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay, so you. So Kathy did call You, I mean, I saw your story. Yeah, that's nuts.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah, she called me, like, yeah, that's nuts.

[Megan Rapinoe]

But Kiki, you were at All Star in Phoenix.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So you were like, expecting what, like, brands, parties, chill.

[Kiki Iria]

I'm a chill. My teammates all support them. Just vibe. And now be playing and I'll be playing.

[Megan Rapinoe]

That's amazing. What about you? There's, like, the expectation.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, I definitely had no expectation whatsoever of being an All Star. And then the fan votes came out and I was like, yeah, no, definitely not. Like, just not my year. And then obviously I got the DM and all that and I was like, what the heck is. Like, this can't be true. It must have been like a mental call somebody, I don't know. But then my RGM told me after the game because I was like, wait, okay, I got this message like, is this true? And she was like, yes, it is.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I mean, you don't have to go. Like, I can actually just tell really fast. So Kathy called Gabby Williams, given the wrong number, thought it was you called Gabby Williams, left a message saying, congrats, Sonia, you're an all star. Gabby then DM'd you screenshotted, like, the transcript of it. So that's how you found out was via a voicemail. Yeah, transcript.

[Kiki Iria]

Okay.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Just. Just for the people in the back.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah. But definitely, again, was not expecting it. But I mean, it's, it's just, it's really cool to be able to say that. I mean, we are All Stars. And again, like Kiki said, to be able to do it with her is just. It's going to be a really cool experience.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, it's. It's similar. It's not. It's similar to the draft. Not, not, not the events themselves. And obviously All Stars a weekend, whereas draft is one day. But you know how you said it's like controlled chaos? It's very similar to that. You're going to be like over here, over there, changing your outfit, doing your hair fast, trying to get ready, trying to look nice, trying to look cute. Orange carpet.

[Kiki Iria]

Then you're back.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Then you're at a party. Then you have to wake up the next day and go to a practice and up uniform up with new teammates. Hey, what's up? And it's like constant, constant, constant. And then when you finally get to the game, that's when you can kind of like exhale and just have fun and just go out there and play. But everything else can be pulling you.

[Sonya Citron]

Around all over the place.

[Megan Rapinoe]

But it is really enjoyable and you do get to spend time with players that you might not have been able to, especially like on your team. Not so you don't see the other team as much, but on your team, you get to kick it. So, like, enjoy that because you always get the chance to. Oh, Sonya, three point contest.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah.

[Megan Rapinoe]

What made you do that?

[Sonya Citron]

I don't know.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I love that you're doing it. I've done it a couple times. I have had some decent showings and I had one epic failure and I live to see another day. So don't overthink it.

[Sonya Citron]

I'm definitely stressed about it. Yeah. I mean, they. They asked and I was like, like, this is gonna give me a lot of anxiety, but it's gonna be a really cool experience. And I, like, I would rather do it than not do it in regret. Like, oh, what? What if. You know? So, yeah, I'm definitely very nervous about it. But I mean, like you said, I'm just gonna go out. Hopefully I don't brick every shot and maybe I'll win, maybe not. I don't know.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I'm telling you, one year, I don't remember the year I got to the finals. I think I lost to Becky Hammond. And then the all starring, it was in Seattle the one and only time. So, you know, like, hometown kid in a sense. So I was like, yeah, I'll do the three point contest. Oh, it was. I. I think it might have been the lowest score of all time. I'm not even joking. Yeah. By the third rack, I was like, asking fans if they would just want.

[Kiki Iria]

To come out and shoot it.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Like, I had no shot.

[Kiki Iria]

So I'm telling you, I don't break that record.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, yeah, but even if you did.

[Kiki Iria]

Things can be okay. They can be.

[Megan Rapinoe]

They can still be okay for you. All right, so now that you guys are kind of, like, settled in a little bit, I don't want to get, like, too far ahead. But I am curious, right, about what you're already recognizing as things you want to add or things you want to get better at in the off season. I feel like you wouldn't be going through a season if you didn't have some sort of, like, mental note of those parts of your game. So, Kiki, like, what are you already thinking? Like, on off season, I need to do this. I need to do that.

[Kiki Iria]

My three point shot. Okay. That is something. Just being able to stretch the floor and like, right now we're playing with two, like, very ball dominant bigs, but being able to open the floor a lot more and teams can't sag off of me and double the other post player, I think will just open a lot of things up for our offense and make it harder for people to guard me. And then I think the second thing would just be handling the ball better. Like, not necessarily that I need to, like, come up the floor and do all these moves, but just be able to change direction a little bit better, handle the ball, get to the basket. But yeah, I feel like those are the two things that I'm like, I wish I had it right now because it would make certain things a lot easier now that teams are scouting us.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Right.

[Kiki Iria]

Yeah.

[Sonya Citron]

I would say the first thing is definitely get my weight up.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, not too far up. No, not even weight up. Get my muscle up.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Okay.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, I don't need to gain weight, but I just want to be stronger. I mean, when you see the people that I'm playing against, like Jackie Jewel, like, like, wow. Okay. Yeah, I have some work to do, but yeah, I definitely want to do that. But then basketball wise, it's kind of hard because I feel like I can get better at so much that it's like, hard to pinpoint exactly what. But I would say, like, shooting off the dribble, like being able to shoot threes just off the dribble more comfortably. Better, tighter handle, for sure. Just so I, you know, I feel more comfortable creating for myself, creating for others. Yeah, I'd say. I'd say those two for now, but definitely, I feel like there's so much.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Yeah, no, I think both of you, and that's like a great problem to have both of you have. Your foundation is like, so. I don't know, you just have, like, such a versatility to your games where you can kind of pick and choose as you go and start to add and start to see. And it's kind of exciting to be this young and know you're already all Stars. I know you have so much ahead of you. Like I said, I'm really excited to watch you guys play tomorrow and I know you got to get lifting. So I'm going to finish with one last question. I kind of asked all my guests this. When this season's all said and done, when you look back for yourself, so, like, individually there's an answer. And then as a team, like, what you'll look back and be like, that was a success.

[Sonya Citron]

Yeah, I would say, I think as a team, make the playoffs and go as far as we can. And then for myself, I want, I would say coming into the year I wanted to just embrace everything. So if at the end of the year I can say that, yeah, there were highs and lows, but throughout it all, like, I did the best that I could. I worked hard, I was a good teammate, and I embraced everything. And I can say that I'm a better player now than I was when I started. I would be happy.

[Kiki Iria]

Okay, Yeah. I would steal the second part. Just making sure, like, I'm a better player at the end of the season than I was at the beginning. But I think truly I'm my best when I play with joy. So if I can reflect on the season and be like, even through the highs and the lows, I found a way to have joy, like, that would be a successful rookie season for me. Okay.

[Megan Rapinoe]

And then same for playoffs, of course, right?

[Kiki Iria]

Yes, of course.

[Sonya Citron]

Yes.

[Megan Rapinoe]

All right. Sonia, Kiki, thank you for coming on. Good luck tomorrow.

[Kiki Iria]

Thank you.

[Megan Rapinoe]

I hope you lose. Just kidding. I mean, I'm not kidding.

[Kiki Iria]

Thank you.

[Megan Rapinoe]

So, like I said in the intro, I was really excited for this interview because coming in, I could already sense that these were two kids who had a maturity about them that went beyond their years. And I think what was fun to discover is that they don't even really see themselves that way. They don't even really grasp or understand it just yet. And what was cool is that I think that speaks to their humility, but it also shows an eagerness to get better and not just focus on what's going right for them right now. And I could feel how much they want and are willing to learn and to work, and they are not satisfied. And that is the fun part. Right. They're already making a mark even though they're just getting started. And I also thought it was really interesting to hear them talk about how flying under the radar kind of allowed them to find their way and ease their way into this league. They didn't know each other prior, even though there was a couple close calls. They didn't know each other prior, but it seems like it was just in the cards for them to team up. And now they have each other to lean on as they go through their careers. And I really enjoy chatting with them and I hope you guys enjoy listening. See you next week. This episode is a co production of Together and Vox Media. Our producers are Tommy Alter, Jason Gallagher, Richie Bozek, Harry Krinsky, Jess Clarendon and Melanie Carter. And a special thanks to Ramon Dampour. Thank you to CVS Caremark for supporting this show. CVS Caremark allows you to get the prescriptions you need where you need at the best price for you. CVS Caremark allows for greater access to medication through broad, flexible network strategies. They work with more than 64,000 pharmacies nationwide, 44% of which are independent pharmacies. This coverage means CVS Caremark can give.

[Pickle]

Their members the unmatched ability to choose.

[Megan Rapinoe]

Where and how they want to receive their prescriptions. Go to CMK Co Stories to learn how we help you provide the affordability, support and access your members need.

[Pickle]

Support for the show comes from Mercury. What if banking did more? Because to you, it's more than an invoice. It's your hard work becoming revenue. It's more than a wire, it's payroll for your team. It's more than a deposit. It's landing your your fundraise. The truth is, banking can do more. Mercury brings all the ways you use money into a single product that feels extraordinary to use. Visit mercury.com to join over 200,000 entrepreneurs who use Mercury to do more for their business. Mercury Banking that does more.