Kiki Iriafen transferring to USC to team with JuJu Watkins received the 'Woj bomb' treatment, and it really is that big

28.04.2024 19:26

USC is a strong title contender after landing Kiki Iriafen.

Led by freshman phenom Juju Watkins, the USC women’s basketball team went 29-6 last season, clinched a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and reached the Elite 8 — where it was eliminated by UConn and potential 2025 No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers.

For an encore next season, the Trojans might just go all the way.

Stanford transfer Kiki Iriafen announced her commitment to USC Saturday night, making this team so much more dangerous. A player good enough to challenge Bueckers for that top pick, Iriafen gives the Trojans one of the most lethal duos in college basketball with her and Watkins.

The news was so big the NBA’s biggest news breaker, Adrian Wojnarowski, was the one who broke it.

Just in: Former Stanford F Kiki Iriafen — the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft — has committed to the USC Trojans, she tells ESPN. Iriafen will return to her LA home to team with Juju Watkins on a national title contender for coach Lindsay Gottlieb. pic.twitter.com/MAnmUfyENY

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 28, 2024

The “Woj bomb” treatment was necessary. Iriafen’s move back home to play for USC sent the Trojans’ 2025 title odds skyrocketing up to +450 after opening at +1000 following the season. USC moved from a top-five title contender to top-three, closing the gap on UConn (+400), with only the reigning champs, South Carolina (+150), holding distance.

A 6-foot-3 forward, Iriafen averaged 19.4 points on 55% shooting and 11.0 rebounds last season, starring next to Cameron Brink, who was selected No. 2 overall in this year’s WNBA Draft. With Iriafen now teaming with Watkins — who averaged 27 points — fans think the sky is the limit for USC.

Pencil USC into a Final Four spot in 2025. Watkins and Iriafen together is crazy. https://t.co/vjal6kJPKU

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) April 28, 2024

Damn the Woj Bomb for this is tough! USC bringing in a Top 10 player in the country and a Top 10 recruit to rock with JuJu https://t.co/EOF1fK6BNd pic.twitter.com/TWfvK64w37

— . (@Kttrawick33) April 28, 2024

This one’s big.

ESPN’s top uncommitted transfer is headed to LA and will join forces with JuJu Watkins. The Trojans — who are coming off an Elite Eight appearance — also boast the nation’s top incoming recruiting class. https://t.co/Kl8ZqP6xv3

— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) April 28, 2024