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/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Katie Chin
USC’s Kiki Iriafen In Line For Another Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Pick As 2025 Finalist
March 06, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Senior could be the third player to earn the prestigious award twice in her collegiate career.
The reigning Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year, Kiki Iriafen takes another step forward in running to repeat as the nation's top power forward with her selection as one of five finalists for the 2025 award, as selected by the Basketball Hall of Fame's Naismith Starting Five committee, in collaboration with the WBCA.
The Katrina McClain Award, now in its eighth year, recognizes the top power forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. It is named after the two-time All-American, 1987 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2012 Hall of Famer.
A unanimous selection to the 2025 All-Big Ten First Team, Iriafen has shined brightly in her first season as a Trojan. She has notched nine double-doubles this season and is averaging 18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor. Also effective from the stripe, Iriafen ranks No. 50 in the nation with 120 free throws made. She also ranks nationally at No. 16 with her 4.1 offensive rebounds per game and top-50 in field goals made.
In helping USC to its highest AP ranking since 1984 at No. 2 in the nation and on to the program's first regular-season conference title since 1994 in claiming the Big Ten title, Iriafen has produced team-high scoring in USC wins over ranked Maryland, Ohio State and Illinois teams during conference play.
Iriafen's 2024-25 awards list also includes AP Preseason All-America status along with spots on the Wade Watch List, Naismith Trophy Watch List and Wooden Award Watch List as well as two selections to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll and a selection as a USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Week.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Friday, March 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In late March, the five finalists will be presented to McClain and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Katrina McClain Award are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 McClain Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional women's awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Award are Iriafen while at Stanford (2024), Maddy Siegrist, Villanova (2023), NaLyssa Smith, Baylor (2021-22), Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018, 2020) and Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019).
For more information on the Katrina McClain Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #McClainAward on X and Instagram.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981 or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.
The Katrina McClain Award, now in its eighth year, recognizes the top power forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. It is named after the two-time All-American, 1987 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2012 Hall of Famer.
A unanimous selection to the 2025 All-Big Ten First Team, Iriafen has shined brightly in her first season as a Trojan. She has notched nine double-doubles this season and is averaging 18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor. Also effective from the stripe, Iriafen ranks No. 50 in the nation with 120 free throws made. She also ranks nationally at No. 16 with her 4.1 offensive rebounds per game and top-50 in field goals made.
In helping USC to its highest AP ranking since 1984 at No. 2 in the nation and on to the program's first regular-season conference title since 1994 in claiming the Big Ten title, Iriafen has produced team-high scoring in USC wins over ranked Maryland, Ohio State and Illinois teams during conference play.
Iriafen's 2024-25 awards list also includes AP Preseason All-America status along with spots on the Wade Watch List, Naismith Trophy Watch List and Wooden Award Watch List as well as two selections to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll and a selection as a USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Week.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Friday, March 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In late March, the five finalists will be presented to McClain and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Katrina McClain Award are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 McClain Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional women's awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Award are Iriafen while at Stanford (2024), Maddy Siegrist, Villanova (2023), NaLyssa Smith, Baylor (2021-22), Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018, 2020) and Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019).
For more information on the Katrina McClain Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #McClainAward on X and Instagram.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981 or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.
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