Stanford transfer forward Kiki Iriafen commits to USC
Former Stanford forward Kiki Iriafen has committed to USC as a transfer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Iriafen is a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The addition of Iriafen is a major boost for the Trojans. Under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, USC should be a national championship contender with Iriafen joining star point guard JuJu Watkins after her star-turned freshman season.
Iriafen is also a Los Angeles native.
Iriafen had a breakout 2023-24 season for the Cardinal, averaging 19.4 points per game while starting all 36 games she played. She averaged 27.7 minutes per game this past season.
She entered the transfer portal shortly after longtime Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer — the all-time winningest — retired.
VanDerveer announced her retirement in early April
After 38 years with the program, VanDerveer announced her retirement on April 9. VanDerveer is the winningest coach in NCAA history, earning 1,216 victories along the way. Her list of accomplishments goes on and on but now, VanDerveer is stepping away.
“Basketball is the greatest group project there is and I am so incredibly thankful for every person who has supported me and our teams throughout my coaching career,” VanDerveer said in a statement. “I’ve been spoiled to coach the best and brightest at one of the world’s foremost institutions for nearly four decades. Coupled with my time at Ohio State and Idaho, and as head coach of the United States National Team, it has been an unforgettable ride.
“The joy for me was in the journey of each season, seeing a group of young women work hard for each other and form an unbreakable bond. Winning was a byproduct. I’ve loved the game of basketball since I was a little girl, and it has given me so much throughout my life. I hope I’ve been able to give at least a little bit back.”
VanDerveer’s career as a head coach was for 45 years, also working at Idaho and Ohio State. She was hired by Stanford in 1985 and had an abundance of success. The Cardinal reached 14 Final Fours and won three national championships (1990, 1992, and 2021) with her in charge.
Thankfully for Stanford, the relationship with VanDerveer will continue. An advisory role inside of the athletics department is where VanDerveer will transition.
“Tara’s name is synonymous with the sport and women’s basketball would not be what it is today without her pioneering work,” Stanford AD Bernard Muir said. “She has been devoted to this campus for 40 years and a servant to all the student-athletes who have come through her program. Tara built one of the sport’s iconic programs almost immediately upon her arrival at Stanford, and then maintained that standard for nearly four decades.
“An energetic and positive teacher, a Hall of Famer, a trusted friend and mentor, Tara’s impact is simply unmatched, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to characterize her as one of the most influential people to ever be associated with this university. We will look forward to finding the appropriate ways to honor her deep impact and legacy here at Stanford.”
A replacement for VanDerveer is already in the works, with the school negotiating with Kate Paye, who is a former player and has been an assistant for the program for the past 17 seasons.