Kiki Iriafen's journey from USC to WNBA All-Star Game

LOS ANGELES— The WNBA can be a whirlwind. The league’s draft begins not even a week after the NCAA Final Four, and the season begins not even a month after that. Many young athletes can have a tough time adjusting to the grueling schedule, the media hype, and the physicality– bumping shoulders every night against grown women in the W.

But not L.A. native Kiki Iriafen. The 6’3’’ rim protecter out of USC ranks third among rookies in both points per game and total points (262), while leading the class in rebounds per game and total rebounds (186). She also sits third in field goal percentage and field goals made per game (4.5). Her and teammate Sonia Citron are the first rookie pair to be selected as All-Stars since 1999, and it seems like all of her accolades have happened before a Trojan fan can finish saying “Fight On!”

In the last four months, Iriafen won the Big Ten regular season championship at USC, dropped 36 points in the second round of the NCAA tournament, made it to the Elite 8 without star Juju Watkins, got drafted 4th overall by the Washington Mystics, and became a WNBA All-Star.

Finally back in L.A. as a professional, I spoke with the rising star a few hours before her first matchup against her hometown L.A. Sparks. It was the last game before she left for Indianapolis to represent at All-Star Weekend. Ever-present and in the moment, she hasn’t taken the time yet to look completely back on her journey, but it’s a story absolutely worth telling. 

Iriafen made her name in Southern California as a five-star recruit out of L.A.'s Harvard-Westlake. Determined at a young age, Iriafen filled out her own paperwork to attend the prestigious prep school in the hills of Studio City. “I’m a very independent person,” she said. “I like to get things done, and I trust myself the most, so I kind of just took charge of that.” 

She won the CIF Southern Section Division I championship with the program as a junior in 2020. Next year she was a McDonald’s All-American, and two-time Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year. 

“14,15-year-old Kiki just had a lot of dreams and aspirations,” Iriafen said,  “And nothing could really stop that.” She knew even back then that she'd make the WNBA. 

From one private school to another, the burgeoning forward committed to Stanford, playing alongside future Spark Cameron Brink, and following in the footsteps of one of her idols, Cardinal alum and fellow Nigerian-American Nneka Ogwumike.

Stanford was dominant during her tenure in Palo Alto, winning three-straight Pac-12 titles, along with a Sweet Sixteen and Final Four appearance. But Kiki’s play needed some time to develop. After averaging just over six points in her second season, she exploded her junior year into a star, winning the Pac-12 Most Improved Player Award, and averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds per game. Iriafen became a ferocious offensive threat around the rim, a great defender, and a technically sound midrange shooter with a a smooth jumper. Unlike many bigs, Iriafen was also an excellent free throw shooter in college, hitting 90% from the line as a senior.

According to coach Kate Paye, Kiki decided to leave Stanford for “personal, family reasons”. It felt more like the last dance. After losing in heartbreaking fashion in the Sweet Sixteen to North Carolina State, Cameron Brink graduated and went pro. Head Coach Tara VanDerveer, the winningest coach in college basketball history, retired after 38 seasons of coaching. 

The winning would continue for Iriafen, however. Returning home to Los Angeles for her senior season, she transferred to USC in April, 2024. She joined a deep USC roster, including Wooden Player of the Year, Juju Watkins. 

The super-duo of Watkins and Iriafen led the Trojans to a ranking as high as No.2 in the nation and a No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament in March, 2025. But Juju Watkins’ devastating ACL tear in the second round of the tournament took the wind out of the Trojans’ sails. 

Iriafen picked up the pieces for USC, matching a career-high 36 points to defeat Mississippi State en route to an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight. 

Her last game as a Trojan was less than satisfying. Without Watkins, the Trojans lost to the eventual champion UCONN Huskies behind 31 points from Paige Bueckers. Iriafen only had 10 points and 6 rebounds in the 78-64 loss. 

Less than three weeks later she was drafted 4th overall by the Washington Mystics. Three months after that, she’s back in Los Angeles as a pro–and an All-Star–for the first time.

“I’m super excited to be back home,” she said, “to see all my family, all my friends, my former teammates, just everybody.” With her former USC teammates in attendance, Kiki played in Crypto.Com Arena for the first time, “I’ve been in this arena plenty of times–but as a fan. So to play on this court is really special.”

True to her Hollywood roots, Iriafen talked about her love of fashion, and some of her favorite things to do when she’s back in L.A., living the high life. 

“I’m an Erewhon girlie,” she said with a smile. “That’s where I stopped right when I got here.” 

Her refreshment of choice at the opulent grocery store: a “Hailey Bieber Smoothie”.

 “It was amazing,” she added,  “it was worth the money, I will say.” 

In the 99-80 loss to the Sparks later that night, Iriafen finished with eight points, and eight rebounds, just shy of her fourth-straight double-double. But she’ll have her shot at revenge as soon as the All-Star break is over, as the Sparks head to Washington to play the Mystics on Kiki’s new home court in the nation’s capital. 

There have been some adjustments Iriafen has had to make coming into the league, from playing against her idols–like Ogwumike and A’ja Wilson–to learning how to win a jump ball for the first time (there’s no possession arrow at the pro level).  At 11-11, Washington is seventh in league standings, pushing for a playoff spot in the second half of the season. 

From the Big Ten, to the tournament, to the draft, to Washington in four months. It’s been quite a ride for the 21-year-old L.A. girl, but has the rising WNBA star had any time to reflect on her past year?

“Not really,” she replied .  “Hopefully, during this break I have some time to just reflect…I think the biggest thing for me is just trying to stay present.” 

She credited the circle of people around her and the Mystics organization for keeping her grounded.

Humbly, Iriafen doesn’t boast about dominating the pros at such a young age.

“I think every day is just a work in progress..even with the good and the bad, I think I’m just trying to have a growth mindset, so even when I am playing well I know that I can always get better at something else.” 

After a few minutes, and a few more questions, it starts to sink in. The former All-American said she couldn’t imagine being an All-Star in her first season, adding that she’s “very blessed.”

“Just this time last year I remember being here [at Crypto.com Arena], like, multiple times..to now being in the league.”

“It’s just crazy how time flies.”