The Mystics big three of Shakira Austin, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen are amongst the league leaders in the WNBA’s newest stat, gravity.
The league rolled out the stat through its Inside the Game feature, powered by Amazon Web Services. Gravity measures how much the defense shifts and how the player changes the game each time they touch the basketball. A player who commands gravity pulls defenders towards them above expected. Measuring how much attention they draw compared to what the spacing on the floor predicts.
When you think about gravity, the first player that comes to mind is someone like Stephen Curry. But the NBA does not have an official stat in its database. The W is being innovative with how they track data using AI technology. The Mystics are learning to adjust their game plan around this new technology as well.
Mystics Young Stars:
Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are already two players who defenses are scheming against, which is quite the accomplishment. Both of them are second-year players at the young age of 22. They became All-Stars as rookies last season. The league is being put on notice of how good they are.
Citron led the league in 3-point percentage last season at 44.5%. That type of shooting will definitely command plenty of attention from defenses. With her poise under pressure at such a young age, Citron will only get better, and defenses will have to adjust to stop her. She is currently first in the gravity stat.
Iriafen was amongst the top six in the league in multiple rebounding categories. Last season, she was fourth in rebounds per game and third in total rebounds. This all contributed to her being fifth in double-doubles. Iriafen is also a player who attacks the rim constantly in the paint. Her play style warrants a lot of defensive attention.
Shakira Austin has improved in every aspect of her game. She is in the running for the Most Improved Player of the Year award. With her putting up career-highs across the board, she is demanding more attention. Austin is embracing her leadership role with this young team, and that comes with the responsibility of the team’s game-planning to stop her. She is amongst the leaders in gravity as well.
Coaching Adjustments:
Mystics Head Coach Johnson talked more about how their game plan has changed to compensate for the added attention. For a rebuilding team that has exceeded expectations, having three players rank among the league leaders in gravity is another sign that the Mystics’ young core is ahead of schedule.
Austin, Citron, and Iriafen are not only producing statistically, but they are also forcing opponents to adjust their game plans every night. As defenses continue to key in on Washington’s emerging stars, the challenge will be finding ways to capitalize on that attention. If the Mystics can do that consistently, their rising trio will continue to be one of the most difficult groups in the WNBA to defend and a major reason for the franchise’s bright future.
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