“I really feel prefer it’s hitting me proper now that in a couple of hours I’m going to be drafted,” mentioned Kiki Iriafen from the glam chair. Just a few hours forward of the WNBA draft, the USC participant was in her lodge room on the Equinox Lodge in Manhattan having her hair and make-up accomplished 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 mentioned. “I do know Georgia Amoore fairly properly; we did a camp this summer season collectively. After which among the different women we performed in opposition to 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 in opposition to one another.”
After a weekend filled with commitments, she spent the evening earlier than draft day strolling round Occasions Sq. along with her buddies 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 mentioned. “After which to get again right here as an alternative of Ubering, my pal and I took a type of [pedicab] bikes. I assumed ‘that’s very New York.’ We had loads of enjoyable.”
A take a look at Kiki Iriafen preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Tess Mayer/WWD
The schedule of the WNBA signifies that after being drafted, gamers have solely a short time earlier than needing to relocate to their new dwelling cities for coaching. The 2025 season kicks off on Could 16.
After the draft, Iriafen will fly again to L.A., pack up her residence and transfer to wherever she is drafted — although she’s technically nonetheless a scholar at USC.
“I graduate in Could, however I’ll be ending the remainder of my courses on-line,” she mentioned.
“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 loads of tasks to care for. So I believe as soon as I lastly pack up my residence, it’ll be actual.”
A take 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 a couple of months within the making, however I knew I actually needed to have my Nigerian tradition integrated indirectly,” Iriafen mentioned. “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 can 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 all the pieces collectively when it comes to equipment. However simply seeing it, I used to be like, ‘that is going to be a showstopper.’”
A take a look at Kiki Iriafen preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Tess Mayer/WWD
Throughout the collaboration course of, the one factor Iriafen knew she needed was a leg slit.
“I really feel like leg slits and I am going collectively hand in hand,” she mentioned. “After which I appreciated the concept of getting to grab the waist. So we’ve added some corset motion after which having an asymmetrical high 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 grow to be form of my signature look,” she mentioned.
Off-court, Iriafen loves skirts, clothes and units — “I’m very girly lady” — and is looking forward to exploring her fashion extra as soon as she enters the WNBA.
“I really feel like I’m nonetheless discovering my fashion and what I need that to be, however I believe there’s so many vogue icons within the W[NBA],” she mentioned.
A take a look at Kiki Iriafen preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Tess Mayer/WWD
