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Posts tagged as “Kiki Iriafen”

USA Basketball Announces Official Roster for 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament this March in Puerto Rico

February 13, 2026

USA Basketball has officially announced the roster for 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament which will be held in Puerto Rico, from March 11-17, 2026.

Here’s the list of the 12 player roster;

  1. Aliyah Boston
  2. Paige Bueckers
  3. Sonia Citron
  4. Caitlin Clark
  5. Kahleah Copper
  6. Chelsea Gray
  7. Dearica Hamby
  8. Rhyne Howard
  9. Kiki Iriafen
  10. Kelsey Plum
  11. Angel Reese
  12. Jackie Young

The roster is a mix of Olympic champions and rising stars, led by 2024 gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, alongside 3×3 bronze winners Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard. While veteran Aliyah Boston makes her anticipated return, the roster also features the official senior national team debuts of Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Caitlin Clark, Kiki Iriafen, and Angel Reese.

Three-time Olympic and World champion Breanna Stewart will also join the team in Miami for a pre-competition training camp, set for March 7-8.

The coaching staff will be lead by 2025-28 USA Basketball Women’s National Team head coach Kara Lawson (Duke University) with assistant coaches Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury) and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever). The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from March 11-17, 2026.

The U.S. Women’s team play games against Senegal, Puerto Rico, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain.

Game Schedule

  • March 11: vs. Senegal
  • March 12: vs. Puerto Rico
  • March 14: vs. Italy
  • March 15: vs. New Zealand
  • March 17: vs. Spain

Fever routs Mystics to clinch playoff spot (94 – 65)

September 8, 2025

The Indiana Fever has secured their playoff spot after defeating the Washington Mystics (94 – 65). Fever clinched the playoff despite missing five players to season-ending injuries, including their Superstar Caitlin Clark to groin injury.

It was a competitive first half, with the Fever leading by just seven points. But in the 3rd quarter, the Fever limited the Mystics to just 9 points while scoring 17 points, and then in the final frame, the Fever ran away with the game, leading by as much as 33 points before closing the game 94 – 65.

Natasha Howard led the Fever with 17 points, with another solid game from Aliyah Boston with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Kelsey Mitchell added 10 points. Shey Peddy and Aerial Powers, Indiana’s recent additions via “hardship signing,” made solid contributions, scoring 13 points and 15 points, respectively.

Rookie sensation Sonia Citron led the Washington Mystics with 17 points, with Shakira Austin and fellow rookie Kiki Iriafen scoring 11 points apiece. No other Washington player scored more than 7 points. Citron set a new Washington Mystics scoring record for total points in a season at 644 points, passing Brittney Sykes’ previous mark of 636 in 2023.

With just one more game, the Fever are already assured of a 7th seed in the playoffs, and they have a chance to move up to the 6th seed if the Golden State Warriors lose their game against the Seattle Storm. Both teams are fighting for their playoff spot.

The Indiana Fever will face the Minnesota Lynx for their last game of the season while the Mystics will face the New York Liberty.

Game Highlights

WNBA announces the 2025 WNBA All-Star Reserves

July 7, 2025

After announcing the Starters and the Coaches for this year’s All-Star games, WNBA has announce the 12 Reserves for the 2025 WNBA All-Stars. The reserves high-lighted by veterans Skylar Diggins of the Seattle Storm and Alyssa Thomas from Phoenix Mercury, and rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen who are both from Washington Mystics.

  1. Sonia Citron, Mystics (Rookie and 1st All-Star selection)
  2. Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm (7th All-Star selection)
  3. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (3rd All-Star selection)
  4. Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics (Rookie and 1st All-Star selection)
  5. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever (3rd All-Star selection)
  6. Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks (4th All-Star selection)
  7. Angel Reese, Chicago Sky (2nd All-Star selection)
  8. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury (6th All-Star selection)
  9. Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries (1st All-Star selection)
  10. Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx (2nd All-Star selection)
  11. Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm (1st All-Star selection)
  12. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (4th All-Star selection)

Team Captains Clark and Collier will draft their respective rosters by selecting first from the remaining eight players in the pool of starters and then from the just announced pool of 12 reserves.

Here are now the full roster of 2025 WNBA All-Stars.
2025 WNBA ALL-STARS

STARTERS
PLAYER TEAM POSITION
^Paige Bueckers Dallas Wings Guard
**Caitlin Clark Indiana Fever Guard
Sabrina Ionescu New York Liberty Guard
Allisha Gray Atlanta Dream Guard
**Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx Frontcourt
A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces Frontcourt
Breanna Stewart New York Liberty Frontcourt
Aliyah Boston Indiana Fever Frontcourt
Nneka Ogwumike Seattle Storm Frontcourt
Satou Sabally Phoenix Mercury Frontcourt

RESERVES
^Sonia Citron Washington Mystics Guard
Skylar Diggins Seattle Storm Guard
Rhyne Howard Atlanta Dream Guard
^Kiki Iriafen Washington Mystics Frontcourt
Kelsey Mitchell Indiana Fever Guard
Kelsey Plum Los Angeles Sparks Guard
Angel Reese Chicago Sky Frontcourt
Alyssa Thomas Phoenix Mercury Frontcourt
^Kayla Thornton Golden State Valkyries Frontcourt
Courtney Williams Minnesota Lynx Guard
^Gabby Williams Seattle Storm Guard
Jackie Young Las Vegas Aces Guard

**denotes All-Star team captain by virtue of being one of the two highest vote-getters in voting by fans.
^ denotes first-time All-Star selection.

Full list of the 2025 WNBA Draft

April 15, 2025

Dallas Wings took UConn’s Paige Bueckers at No. 1 while 6’6″ French Center Dominique Malonga goes to the Seattle Storm.

Here are top 5 of this year’s WNBA Draft class;

  • Dallas Wings picking Paige Bueckers from UConn
  • Seattle Storm drafting Dominique Malonga from France
  • Washington Mystics picking Sonia Citron from Notre Dame and USC Trojans Forward Kiki Iriafen.

Another noteworthy pick is the 11th pick in the 1st round: Hailey Van Lith going to the Chicago Sky, reuniting the 5’9″ guard with Angel Reese, with whom she played at LSU.

Below is the full list of the 2025 WNBA Draft;

First Round

Pick no. Drafting Team Draftee School / Club / Country Position
1. Dallas Wings Paige Bueckers Connecticut PG/SG
2. Seattle Storm (LAS) Dominique Malonga France C
3. Washington Mystics (CHI) Sonia Citron Notre Dame SG/SF
4. Washington Mystics Kiki Iriafen Southern California PF
5. Golden State Valkyries Juste Jocyte Lithuania SG
6. Washington Mystics Georgia Amoore Kentucky PG
7. Connecticut Sun (PHO) Annessah Morrow LSU PF
8. Connecticut Sun (IND) Saniyah Rivers North Carolina State PG/SG
9. Los Angeles Sparks (SEA) Sarah Ashlee Barker Alabama SG
10. Chicago Sky (CON) Ajsa Sivka Slovenia PF
11. Chicago Sky (MIN) Hailey Van Lith TCU SG/PG
12. Dallas Wings (NYL) Aziah James North Carolina State SG

Second Round

Pick no. Drafting Team Draftee School / Club / Country Position
13. Las Vegas Aces (LAS) Aaliyah Nye Alabama SG/SF
14. Dallas Wings Madison Scott Mississippi SF
15. Minnesota Lynx (CHI) Anastassiia Olariri Kosu Russia
16. Chicago Sky (WAS) Maddy Westbeld Notre Dame PF
17. Golden State Valkyries Shyanne Sellers Maryland PG
18. Atlanta Dream Te-Hina Paopao South Carolina SG
19. Indiana Fever Mikayla Timpson Florida State PF
20. Indiana Fever Bree Hall South Carolina SG/SF
21. Los Angeles Sparks Sania Feagin South Carolina PF
22. Chicago Sky (LVA) Aicha Coulibaly Texas A&M SF
23. Washington Mystics (CON) Lucy Olsen Iowa PG
24. Minnesota Lynx Dalayah Daniels Washington C
25. Connecticut Sun (NYL) Rayah Marshall Southern California C

Third Round

Pick no. Drafting Team Draftee School / Club / Country Position
26. Seattle Storm (LAS) Serena Sundell Kansas State PG
27. Dallas Wings JJ Quinerly Wst Virginia G
28. Los Angeles Sparks (CHI) Liatu King Notre Dame PF
29. Seattle Storm (WAS) Madison Conner TCU SG
30. Golden State Valkyries Kaitlyn Chen Connecticut PG
31. Dallas Wings (ATL) Aaronette Vonleh Baylor PF
32. Washington Mystics (PHO) Zaay Green Alabama F
33. Indiana Fever Yvonne Ejim Gonzaga F
34. Seattle Storm Jordan Hobbs Michigan SF
35. Las Vegas Aces Harmony Turner Harvard PG
36. Atlanta Dream (CON) Taylor Thierry Ohio State W
37. Minnesota Lynx Aubrey Griffin Connecticut SF
38. New York Liberty Adja Kane France ?

The 2025 WNBA Regular Season starts on May 16th.