The outstanding basketball player, Kiki Iriafen, has been called up by Team USA, generating mixed feelings in Nigeria. A senior official of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed the nation’s pride in Iriafen’s achievements, while lamenting the possibility of not seeing her represent Nigeria internationally.
Iriafen, of Nigerian origin, was selected to participate in a training camp for the United States women’s national basketball team, which will take place from December 12 to 14 at Duke University in North Carolina. This call-up suggests that Iriafen is unlikely to play for Nigeria.
“We are proud of her achievements from college to the WNBA, and we have been monitoring her. It’s a bit sad for us that she will not represent Nigeria, but that was always a difficult thing. We wish her the best with Team USA, but the door will remain open here for her as long as possible.”
NBBF Official
Despite the possible absence in the Nigerian selection, Iriafen remains connected to her culture. In early November, she participated in the annual “Battle of Jollof” event in New York, displaying the green and white colors of Nigeria to support the team coached by Arike Ogunbowale, who defeated Ghana to earn the right to boast about the jollof for the next year.
Iriafen will join nine other players in her debut at the national team camp, including her Mystics teammate, Sonia Citron, as well as Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Lauren Betts, Cameron Brink, Veronica Burton, Caitlin Clark, Rickea Jackson, and JuJu Watkins.
Citron and Iriafen became the eighth and ninth players in franchise history, and the first pair of Mystics teammates, to be named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
Iriafen, selected in the fourth round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, has had an exceptional rookie season, averaging 13.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, with 48.8% field goal efficiency. She was one of five players, along with Aliyah Boston, Kamilla Cardoso, Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas, and MVP A’ja Wilson, to average at least 12 points and 8 rebounds with 48% or better efficiency during the 2025 season.
In addition, Iriafen recorded a rookie record of 2025, and a franchise single-season record of 16 double-doubles, placing her fifth overall in the league. Her 8.5 rebounds per game are the most for a rookie in franchise history and ranked fourth overall in the WNBA this season.
Finished third among all rookies in scoring, first in rebounds per game, second in field goal percentage, and led all rookies in second-chance points (2.8) and total free throws made (138) and attempted (176).
This adds to other franchise and WNBA records, including the franchise single-season rebounding record (376), being the first rookie in franchise history to earn the league’s Rookie of the Month honors after averaging 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in May; recording the most 10+ point, 5+ rebound games in a single season in franchise history and the second-most 10+ point, 5+ rebound games by a rookie in WNBA history (31), and accumulating the most 10+ rebound games by a rookie in franchise history (19).
The rest of the camp will feature the 2024 Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, along with Brionna Jones, 2022 FIBA World Cup champion.
Copper and Gray are also world champions, while Plum (2022, 2018) and Griner (2018, 2014) are two-time World Cup champions. Dearica Hamby, who won a bronze medal in 3×3 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, completes the list.
