“I really feel prefer it’s hitting me proper now that in just a few hours I’m going to be drafted,” stated Kiki Iriafen from the glam chair. A couple of hours forward of the WNBA draft, the USC participant was in her lodge room on the Equinox Resort in Manhattan having her hair and make-up achieved in her sweats, an iced matcha in hand.
Iriafen flew in from Los Angeles on a 7 a.m. flight Friday morning and had spent the weekend with the remainder of the draft class.
“We’ve simply been hanging out, attending to know one another much more,” Iriafen stated. “I do know Georgia Amoore fairly properly; we did a camp this summer time collectively. After which a number of the different ladies we performed towards one another and have been in comparable circles, so it was good to attach with individuals on a deeper degree and never be taking part in towards one another.”
After a weekend filled with commitments, she spent the evening earlier than draft day strolling round Occasions Sq. along with her pals and ended up at Elevating Cane’s till 1 a.m.
“They really turned it right into a mini membership. There was a DJ, so it was actually enjoyable,” she stated. “After which to get again right here as a substitute of Ubering, my buddy and I took a type of [pedicab] bikes. I assumed ‘that’s very New York.’ We had a variety of enjoyable.”
A have a look at Kiki Iriafen preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Tess Mayer/WWD
The schedule of the WNBA implies that after being drafted, gamers have solely a short time earlier than needing to relocate to their new house cities for coaching. The 2025 season kicks off on Could 16.
After the draft, Iriafen will fly again to L.A., pack up her house and transfer to wherever she is drafted — regardless that she’s technically nonetheless a pupil at USC.
“I graduate in Could, however I’ll be ending the remainder of my courses on-line,” she stated.
“I really feel like that is the start of my grownup journey,” she added. “I do know I’m an grownup, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel actual till I begin my job. That is going to be my job and I’ve a variety of tasks to handle. So I believe as soon as I lastly pack up my house, it’ll be actual.”
A have a look at Kiki Iriafen preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Tess Mayer/WWD
For draft evening, she labored with designer Nneka Alexander to create a customized costume by her model Brides by Nona, after seeing Chiney Ogwumike in a customized marriage ceremony robe by Alexander.
“It’s been just a few months within the making, however I knew I actually needed to have my Nigerian tradition included not directly,” Iriafen stated. “Nneka’s labored with Chiney earlier than, so there’s a connection there, and I cherished her work, so I made a decision to work along with her. We’ve been collaborating, going backwards and forwards and simply determining what the proper Kiki costume could be. One thing that’s showstopping, but additionally tremendous true to me. After which she put all her aptitude on it and her experience, and we got here up with one thing tremendous particular.”
She tried on the encrusted bronze robe for the primary time final week in L.A. and “was confused.”
“I used to be like, ‘oh my gosh, that is the costume. That is wonderful.’ And we hadn’t even put every part collectively when it comes to equipment. However simply seeing it, I used to be like, ‘that is going to be a showstopper.’”
A have a look at Kiki Iriafen preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Tess Mayer/WWD
Through the collaboration course of, the one factor Iriafen knew she needed was a leg slit.
“I really feel like leg slits and I’m going collectively hand in hand,” she stated. “After which I favored the concept of getting to grab the waist. So we’ve added some corset motion after which having an asymmetrical prime look. And I really feel like these are my three heavy hitters.”
Glam-wise, Iriafen needed to pay homage to the blond braids she sometimes wears when she performs, so opted for a blond wig.
“Blonde has change into type of my signature look,” she stated.
Off-court, Iriafen loves skirts, attire and units — “I’m very girly woman” — and is waiting for exploring her model extra as soon as she enters the WNBA.
“I really feel like I’m nonetheless discovering my model and what I need that to be, however I believe there’s so many trend icons within the W[NBA],” she stated.
A have a look at Kiki Iriafen preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Tess Mayer/WWD
