Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen has one area of improvement that could be pivotal to her future success: learning to pace herself and avoid turnovers. Despite her impressive 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, Iriafen's eagerness to make an impact sometimes leads to rushed decisions. This was evident in her team's recent game, where she committed two turnovers, one of which was a travel while attacking the rim. However, there's a silver lining. Iriafen has the perfect mentor in Lisa Leslie, a three-time MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, who is currently in Miami to call games and mentor the next generation of players. Leslie has already helped Angel Reese improve her efficiency around the basket, and she's now set to work with Iriafen, offering her wisdom and guidance. This is a significant opportunity for Iriafen, as Leslie is one of the best bigs to ever play in the WNBA, and Iriafen is part of the next generation of great forwards. Unrivaled, the league where Iriafen plays, has already proven to be a great platform for player development. With just a season and a half under its belt, Unrivaled has helped players like Azurá Stevens improve their 3-point shooting. Iriafen, despite not playing a lot, has already shown her impact, scoring 14 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in just 9.6 minutes in a recent game. Being on a team with multi-time All-Star Aliyah Boston, an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team member, and a potential championship contender, is a dream come true for Iriafen. Most importantly, Unrivaled provides Iriafen with ample space in the paint to work on her game. With more space, she can experiment with moves that might not have been possible in the W, especially with the Mystics' poor spacing. So, with Leslie's guidance and the unique opportunities Unrivaled offers, Iriafen is poised to return to the Mystics even better than she was as a rookie. And with teammates like Sonia Citron and Shakira Austin also playing in Unrivaled, the season promises to be an exciting one for Mystics fans.
