Kiki Iriafen emerges as USC star after devastating JuJu Watkins injury

Source: New York Post

USC forward Kiki Iriafen delivered when it mattered most after JuJu Watkins’ devastating knee injury. The 6-foot-3 senior, who is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, scored a career-high 36 points on 16-for-22 shooting in the Trojans’ 96-59 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs Monday in the second round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA tournament. Iriafen — who is in her first season at USC as a graduate transfer from Stanford — added nine rebounds and two assists in Watkins’ absence after the USC superstar suffered a torn ACL in her right knee just five minutes into game at Galen Center, where the Trojans punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 for a second straight season.