WNBA Rookie Pays Tribute to NFL Boyfriend with Outfit Before Paige Bueckers Game

WNBA Rookie Pays Tribute to NFL Boyfriend with Outfit Before Paige Bueckers Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Washington Mystics visited the Dallas Wings on Sunday with guard Sonia Citron looking to continue her strong rookie season.

Through 30 games (30 starts) for the Mystics, Citron is averaging 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 46.4% from the field, 38.6% from deep and 86.4% from the free-throw line.

This meeting also offered a headline rookie duel between Citron and Dallas guard Paige Bueckers for only the second time this season.

With the game being in Dallas, Citron arrived wearing a No. 35 shirt as a nod to her boyfriend, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau, who wears No. 35 for the NFL franchise.

Liufau later reshared the image on his own Instagram story along with, "🥰🥰🥰."

Soni repping 35 in Dallas🤠@dallascowboyspic.twitter.com/Ntb76QFl47

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 10, 2025

Sonia Citron's and Marist Liufau's Relationship

Citron and Liufau met at Notre Dame as high-performance student-athletes. While they've kept their relationship relatively private, the two have been together since 2022 and regularly highlight and support one another on social media.

Liufau, drafted by the Cowboys in the third round (No. 87 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft, emerged from South Bend as a downhill, diagnosing linebacker who recorded 44 tackles and three sacks as a senior for the Fighting Irish.

Since turning pro, the pair’s public signals have been light but consistent, with Liufaiu even being present and prominently supportive on Citron's 2025 WNBA Draft night.

Former Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau supporting girlfriend Sonia Citron at the WNBA Draft. 👏🔥☘️ pic.twitter.com/TY7EkMW3Y2

— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) April 15, 2025

Citron vs. Bueckers: Where the Rookie of the Year Battle Stands Right Now

Bueckers has been the odds-on favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year since the start of the season and nothing has really changed to alter the public's opinion.

Bueckers is averaging 18.6 points, 5.4 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game this season, driving Dallas’s offense and leading all rookies in points and assists.

Citron's numbers are slightly lower across the board, but she posts a higher shooting efficiency. Citron's true shooting percentage (TS%) is 59.9% and effective field goal percentage (eFG%) is 54.1%, while Bueckers holds a TS% of 55% and eFG% of 49.7%, albeit with a higher usage rate (23.3% compared to Citron's 18.5%).

Additionally, Citron boasts a better rebounding percentage (7.2 to Bueckers' 5.9) and defensive rating (100.6 to Bueckers' 105.1), even if Bueckers' total stats are higher.

Essentially, Bueckers is the usage/playmaking engine, while Citron is the efficient off-ball scorer and rebounder.

At the end of the day, the ROTY race is clearly in Bueckers' favor, but Citron isn't too far behind. The next month of basketball could shift the narrative, especially if the Mystics (13-17) can clinch a playoff berth.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.