Kiki Iriafen: Nigerian Pride and Rise to the U.S. Team
The outstanding basketball player, Kiki Iriafen, has been called up for the first time to the United States team, which has generated mixed feelings in Nigeria. An official from the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed the nation’s pride in Iriafen’s achievements, although he regretted that she will probably not represent Nigeria internationally.
Iriafen, of Nigerian origin, was one of the 18 players selected by the United States women’s national basketball team to participate in a training camp from December 12 to 14 at Duke University in 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 to achieve. We wish her the best with the United States team, but the door will remain open here for her for as long as possible.”
NBBF Official
Kiki Iriafen, destacada jugadora de baloncesto.Despite not representing Nigeria internationally, Iriafen maintains strong ties to her Nigerian culture. In early November, she participated in the annual “Battle of Jollof” in New York, wearing the green and white colors of Nigeria to support the Nigerian team, coached by Arike Ogunbowale, which defeated Ghana 80-74.
Iriafen will join nine other players who will make their debut at the national team training 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. She was one of five players to average at least 12 points and 8 rebounds with 48% or better shooting during the 2025 season, and is one of only seven rookies in WNBA history to achieve this.
Additionally, Iriafen recorded 16 double-doubles, the most for a rookie in 2025 and a franchise record in a single season, ranking fifth in the league. Her 8.5 rebounds per game are the most for a rookie in franchise history and the fourth in the WNBA this season.
Iriafen 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).
In addition, she set franchise and WNBA records, including the single-season rebounding record (376), being the first rookie in franchise history to win the league’s Rookie of the Month award, after averaging 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in May. She also had the most games with 10+ points and 5+ rebounds in a single season in franchise history and the second-most games with 10+ points and 5+ rebounds by a rookie in WNBA history (31), accumulating 19 games with 10+ rebounds, the most for a rookie in franchise history (4th in history).
The rest of the training camp will feature 2024 Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, along with Brionna Jones, champion of the 2022 FIBA World Cup.
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.
