Welcome to the "League"

Last week on WNBA Pre-season:

This past Saturday, May 3, 2025, Rookie, Kiki Iriafen (forward), decided instead of having her “welcome to League” moment in her first ever WNBA pre-season game for the Mystics against the Fever, she’d give league Veteran, Sophie Cunningham (guard), her own “Welcome”.  Things got chippy in the Fever’s close call 79-74 pre-season win over the Mystics when Iriafen and Cunningham (Last week on WNBA Pre-season:

This past Saturday, May 3, 2025, Rookie, Kiki Iriafen, decided instead of having her “welcome to League” moment in her first ever WNBA pre-season game for the Mystics against the Fever, she’d give league Veteran, Sophie Cunningham, her own “Welcome”.  Things got chippy in the Fever’s close call 79-74 pre-season win over the Mystics when Iriafen and Cunningham (previously with the Phoenix Mercury but in her first season with the Fever) got tied up for a rebound which resulted in Cunningham ending up face down on the hardwood and a Flagrant 1 foul against Iriafen.  To make matters spicier, words and smirks were exchanged between the two after the tie up.  Personally, I like when a Rookie walks in with confidence, and when the Rookies are as tough as Iriafen, the Vets will have to take notice. 

To put this in Summer House terms, let’s flash back to Paige DeSorbo’s Rookie season clashes against long time Summer House veteran, Lindsay Hubbard.  Let us not forget the infamous “why are we having like a committee here” Christmas in July Party show down between Paige and Lindsay, where Paige did not back down against Lindsay’s attempted “Welcome to the House” moment.  Paige’s “do not tell ME to ‘come on!’” let Lindsay know this is her House too.

Both Kiki and Paige weren’t afraid to make their presence known against their veteran counterparts and both clashes made for some great viewing.

As we all now know, Paige and Lindsay, through much turmoil, have made their way to what seems to be a pretty solid friendship after several seasons in their Hamptons “League.”  Whether Iriafen and Cunnhingham will forge a similar path remains to be seen. You will have to stay tuned next week for more WNBA action to find out!

Where to catch the next round of Action:

Next Mystics Preseason Game: Wednesday, May 7, at 8:30 am Pacific Time

Next Fever Preseason Game: Saturday May 10, at 12:00 pm Pacific Time

Next Summer House Episode: Wednesday, May 7, at 9 pm Eastern Time on Bravo and Thursday for streaming on Peacock.

Bravo and Ball – more similar than you think!