Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen leaves game with injury after collision with Angel Reese

By Liam Griffin - The Washington Times - Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Washington Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen left Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Sky after fighting for a rebound with Angel Reese.

The Mystics have not specified the nature of Iriafen’s injury, but she left the court holding her right ear. It appeared that Reese elbowed Iriafen in the head while contesting the rebound early in the game.

The Mystics forward remained down as the Sky regained possession. The referees did not immediately pause the game.

Iriafen, escorted by trainers, walked straight to the locker room following the injury. She returned to the game with one minute left in the first quarter.

The USC product was the fourth pick in this year’s WNBA draft and was named to her first All-Star team on Sunday. She’s averaging 12.3 points with 8.3 rebounds per game this season.

The game tipped off at 11 a.m. Tuesday at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, on the campus of George Mason University.

• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.