It’s shaping up to be an electrifying week for D.C. Sports fans.
Nascar star William Byron visited an iconic local favorite, the D.C. Defenders powered their way into the UFL Championship, rising WNBA star Kiki Iriafen earned Rookie of the Month honors, and so much more.
From championship dreams to milestone moments, here’s everything you need to know from the sizzling week in the heart of the nation’s capital.
NASCAR Star William Byron Makes a Pit Stop in the Nation’s Capital
Two-time reigning DAYTONA 500 champion William Byron, driver of No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, made a pit Stop to Washington, D.C., as part of his promotion for the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday Aug. 16.
“D.C. is actually one of my more favorite cities so just being here is fun, getting to see different things, going to the Nationals game will be fun,” Byron said. “So I’m looking forward to it.”
Byron kicked off his visit to the nation’s capital, visiting D.C.’s most iconic culinary landmark t known as Ben’s Chili Bowl.
“I just heard it was the best place for hot dogs and I love hot dogs,” said Byron. “I liked it a lot. I definitely recommend it.”
Kamal Ben Ali, co-owner of the establishment and the middle son of Ben and Virginia Ali, co-founders of Ben’s Chili Bowl, shared insights on their excitement to have Byron visit.
The racecar driver shared lunch and a special moment with co-founder Virginia Ali, while also interacting with fans, adding a dash of racing flair to the restaurant’s legacy and community.
“We’re happy to help the sport grow and make it popular among Washingtonians,” said Kamal Ben Ali. “The fact that anyone’s coming to Ben’s Chili Bowl, they recognize what it means to D.C., so when they’re in town, they come in and make their presence known here and it’s great fun. Mom is sitting with him so it definitely adds to both legacies.”
Prince George’s County resident and NASCAR fan Edward Gonzalez said meeting Byron was a dream come true.
“It’s kinda like ‘Are you dreaming?’ like you’re still in a place with a famous athlete,” Gonzalez told The Informer. “Just to be in the same building as him is amazing. And to be at an iconic place like this [Ben’s Chili Bowl], where you know all the famous people have been, feels surreal.”
Byron headed from chowing on chili dogs to Southeast at Nationals Park for the Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs matchup, where he opened the game with the honorary “play ball.”
While Byron enjoyed connecting with the D.C. community, he’ll soon return to the DMV on the track, focused and ready to soar.
“Richmond’s been kind of a tough place for us, but hopefully this year we can get our luck turned around and be faster there,” said Byron. “Always looking to be quicker, more competitive there, and hopefully this year we can do that.”
D.C. Defenders Top St. Louis Battlehawks Clinching Spot In UFL Championship
The D.C. Defenders crushed the St. Louis Blackhawks 36-18 in a thrilling XFL conference championship matchup at The Dome at America’s Center, clinching their UFL championship berth.
“It came down to us, we, and ours, you know,” said Head Coach Shannon Harris. “And that’s been the motto for us the entire season. We’re going to do this together, it’s not just a one man show on any of this stuff. As a head coach you get the praise for it and you get a record put on you. But at the end of the day, it was us, we, and ours. And I’m so happy for these guys and the coaching staff that stayed together.”
Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu ignited the offense early with a 42-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Seth Williams. Running backs Deon Jackson and Abraham Smith fueled the ground attack, rushing for a combined 174 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite a late Battlehawks touchdown, the Defenders remained strong on defense, regaining control, which led to a strong finish.
With a 6-4 regular season record and blazing past the St. Louis Blackhawks, D.C. is now set to take the UFL championship stage where they will face off against the Michigan Panthers on Saturday, June 14.
Kiki Iriafen Earns WNBA Rookie of the Month Title, Mystics Blow Out Connecticut Sun 104-67
Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen has been named Kia WNBA Rookie of The Month for May, setting a franchise milestone.
“I didn’t even know this was a thing,” said Iriafen, talking to her teammates, noting she “wouldn’t have been able to do it without” them. “I just wanted to thank all of you guys [teammates]…. Just being on this team I feel was perfect timing and the perfect people to be around because you guys have really helped me find the love and joy of basketball again.”
In her debut month, Iriafen made a bold impression averaging 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 47.4% shooting, ranking third among rookies in scoring and leading all in rebounds. Her rebounding placed her fourth overall in the league, while her second-chance scoring placed her second overall in the league.
Iriafen became the first Mystics player since 2010 to average a double-double with elite shooting, joining a prestigious group of rookies in WNBA history. From May 18-25, she notched four consecutive double-doubles, reaching a rookie milestone for the first time since 1999.
The California native scored 10+ points in every May game and is one of only six players ever to average a double-double in their first seven career games. Selected fourth overall in the 2025 WNBA draft, Iriafen currently averages 14.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 51.7% shooting, making her a top contender for Rookie of the Year.
While the Mystics broke their three-game losing streak against the Connecticut Sun (104-67), veteran guard Brittany Sykes reflected on the team’s mindset of bouncing back and how they will move forward.
“It was one of those things where what happened doesn’t define us, how we respond does. This was one of those games where we had the chance to bounce back,” said Sykes. “Especially going into this week of practice, without any games. That gives us a little bit of a high spirit, and [we’re] looking forward to correcting a lot of things that we didn’t get to correct because we had so many games in the beginning of the season.”
