Kiki Iriafen: A Closer Look at the Phenomenal Nigeria-eligible Rookie Ruling the WNBA

Nigerian-American professional basketball player, Kiki Iriafen, is making waves in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA.)

The forward, who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2025 WNBA draft, became the youngest Mystics player in over a decade to record a 20-point game, in the Washington Mystics’ 85-76 loss to Indiana Fever on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Kiki Iriafen poses with Washington Mystics cap after being drafted by the franchise with the fourth overall pick by the Washington Mystics

The 21-year-old who joined Paige Bueckers as the only rookie this season to put up a 20+ PT game, also became the first rookie since A’ja Wilson to score double-digit points in the first eight games of her career.

Kiki Iriafen embraces her parents after being selected with the fourth overall pick by the Washington Mystics, wearing traditional Nigerian outfits.

In eight games played, Iriafen has averaged 14.6 points per game (PPG), 10.0 rebounds per game (RPG) and had 51.7% in field goals(FG). Over her last 7 games, Iriafen has consistently delivered for her franchise:

20 PTS, 9 REBS vs Indiana Fever

12 PTS, 7 REBS vs New York Liberty

16 PTS, 8 REBS vs Indiana Fever

11 PTS, 13 REBS vs Phoenix Mercury

17 PTS, 13 REBS vs Las Vegas Aces

10 PTS, 12 REBS vs Golden State Valkyries

17 PTS, 14 REBS vs Connecticut Sun

Adding to her phenomenal run, she is averaging a double-double with 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, which saw her win the Rookie of the Month for May.

With her incredible performance; being the only rookie to score 10+ points in all games played and the only rookie with the most double-doubles, she is in strong contention to win the Rookie of the Year, rivalling number one draft pick, Paige Bueckers.

Beyond the stats, who is Kiki Iriafen? Here is everything you need to know.

One basketball star got every head turning as she graced the orange carpet for the 2025 WNBA draft donning a custom glistening gold dress, adorned with exquisite detailing, and designed by Nigerian designer Nneka Alexander – who also created Chiney Ogwumike’s wedding gown. To compliment the look, this star wore a traditional orange-beaded Nigerian bracelet, flawlessly combining modern style with cultural pride. That star was Kiki Iriafen who was eager and proud to showcase her Nigerian roots.

Kiki Iriafen on the orange carpet before the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

“I’m Nigerian so I wanted to work with a Nigerian designer,” she said. “I was really adamant. I want a slip. I want the waist snapped. I can’t really breathe. I wanted to feel good, I wanted to look good. She said.”

Now, to the origin

Okikiola ‘Kiki’ Iriafen was born in Los Angeles on August 26, 2003, to Nigerian parents: Yemi and Harrison Iriafen. Her name Okikiola, from the Yoruba tribe, means ‘ The herald of wealth/success’ and can also be translated to mean ‘Glory/fame of Wealth.’

Kiki’s father is Harrison Iriafen, and he owns an agricultural business in the USA. Her mother, Yemi Iriafen, works as a home health consultant in the USA. Kiki is the eldest of three children in the Iriafen family. Her siblings are Shuby, who plays football, and Oyinkan, who plays basketball. All three siblings are involved in sports.

Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Kiki played High School basketball at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. She was a two-time Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year and was named a McDonald’s All-American in her senior year. In her junior season, Iriafen led her team to the CIF Southern Section Division One title and earned the Division One Player of the Year honours. She finished her high school career as the school’s all-time leader in points and rebounds. Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN, Iriafen chose to play college basketball at Stanford, turning down offers from Baylor, UCLA, UConn, and Notre Dame.

As a freshman at Stanford, Iriafen came off the bench, averaging 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, which earned her Pac-12 All-Freshman honours from the league media. In her sophomore season, she improved her averages to 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. By her junior year, Iriafen had become one of Stanford’s top players.

During a breakout junior season, she averaged 19.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and was named the most improved player in the Pac-12. Following this success, Iriafen entered the NCAA transfer portal and eventually transferred to the University of Southern California(USC), returning to her hometown of Los Angeles for her final college season.

After USC, she was projected to be the third pick but dropped down to fourth because of the addition of Dominique Malonga and her rookie teammate Sonia Citron being third.

Kiki Iriafen has yet to choose which country to represent and has not made a national team appearance for either Nigeria or the USA, both of which she is eligible to play for.

” In terms of the Olympics, I don’t know yet. We’ll see what happens.” She said while speaking about her national team prospects.

Nigerians eagerly await her decision, especially with the 29th edition of the Women’s Afrobasket scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast from July 25 to August 3, 2025.

With such a great start to her professional basketball career, Kiki Iriafen is poised to take even bigger strides in the WNBA and on the international stage when she takes to it.