Sonia Citron, a 21-year-old WNBA rookie with the Washington Mystics, and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau publicly displayed their relationship Sunday on the sidelines at MetLife Stadium as the Cowboys defeated the New York Giants 40-37 in overtime.
The pair, who first met as student-athletes at the University of Notre Dame, were seen together before the overtime game. Citron wore Liufau's No. 35 Cowboys jersey and carried a cowboy hat while speaking with the linebacker and his teammates, a public confirmation of a relationship reported to have continued for roughly three years.
Citron was the third overall pick in April's WNBA draft and has emerged as a key figure in Washington after an accomplished collegiate career at Notre Dame, where she earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors. Liufau, in his second NFL season, was the Cowboys' third-round pick (87th overall) in 2024 after finishing his Notre Dame career with 117 tackles.
The couple's public appearance at MetLife followed an earlier moment at the WNBA draft in April, when Liufau embraced Citron after her name was called. The relationship had not been widely publicized before Sunday.
On the field, the game produced a late flurry of scoring and a dramatic finish. The teams combined for five go-ahead touchdown drives in the final 12 minutes of the fourth quarter. New York quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns, including a 48-yard scoring pass to Malik Nabors that gave the Giants a 37-34 lead with 25 seconds remaining. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott answered earlier with a 6-yard touchdown to George Pickens with 52 seconds left, and the Cowboys tied the game on Brandon Aubrey's kick on the final play of regulation.
Overtime remained tense until Donovan Wilson intercepted a deep pass and returned it to the Dallas 30 with about two minutes remaining. Prescott then scrambled for 14 yards to set up Aubrey's 46-yard field goal, which sealed the 40-37 victory.
The win extended Dallas' winning streak against the Giants to nine games, the longest active streak among division opponents in the NFL. It also marked Prescott's 14th consecutive victory over the Giants since his rookie season.
Both Citron and Liufau are Notre Dame alumni who developed as standout athletes in South Bend. Citron's ascent to the WNBA followed a decorated college tenure marked by immediate impact, while Liufau's production at linebacker helped position him for a third-round selection and entry into the Cowboys' defensive rotation.
Their public appearance on Sunday drew attention from sports media and fans, who noted the pairing of two prominent young athletes from professional women's basketball and the NFL. The couple's outing underscores growing visibility for athlete relationships across major U.S. sports, coming at a time when both are early in their professional careers.
Citron will continue her rookie season journey with the Mystics, while Liufau and the Cowboys move forward in the NFL season with a signature divisional victory on their resume.