Nigerian Pride and American Ascent: Kiki Iriafen in the Spotlight
The outstanding basketball player, Kiki Iriafen, has been called up by Team USA, which has generated mixed feelings in the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF). Although they celebrate her achievements, they regret not being able to count on her talent to represent Nigeria at the international level.
Iriafen, of Nigerian origin, was selected to participate in a training camp for the United States national team, which will take place from December 12 to 14 at Duke University, North Carolina.
“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 doesn’t represent Nigeria, but that was always something difficult. We wish her the best with Team USA, but the door will remain open here for her as long as possible.”
NBBF Official
Kiki Iriafen, jugadora de las Mystics, fue nombrada en el equipo All-Rookie de la WNBA 2025.Despite not representing Nigeria internationally, Iriafen maintains strong ties to her culture. In early November, she participated in the annual “Battle of Jollof” in New York, supporting the Nigerian team which, led by Arike Ogunbowale, defeated Ghana.
The player will join nine other players 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 shooting accuracy.
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 percent or better shooting during the 2025 season, and is one of seven rookies in WNBA history to achieve this.
In addition, she recorded a rookie record in 2025, and a franchise record in a single season, with 16 double-doubles, ranking fifth in the league. Iriafen joined Angel Reese as the only rookies in WNBA history with multiple streaks of double-doubles of four or more games.
Her 8.5 rebounds per game are the most for a rookie in franchise history and ranked fourth 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 attempts (176).
This adds to other franchise and WNBA records, including the franchise record for single-season rebounds (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 and 5+ rebound games in a single season in franchise history and the second-most 10+ point and 5+ rebound games by a rookie in WNBA history (31) and accumulating the most 10+ rebound games by a franchise rookie (19) (4th most by a rookie of all time).
The rest of the camp will feature 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.
