USC’s Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall Selected In 2025 WNBA Draft
April 14, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Iriafen is USC’s highest selection since 1997; It’s the third straight year with two Trojans picked in the draft.
For the third straight year, USC women's basketball has had two players selected in the WNBA Draft with senior post players Kiki Iriafen (No. 4 overall, Washington Mystics) and Rayah Marshall (No. 25 overall, Connecticut Sun) picked in the 2025 draft, held in New York City today (April 14).
As the No. 4 overall pick by the Washington Mystics, Kiki Iriafen becomes USC's first top-10 WNBA Draft selection since Ebony Hoffman was No. 9 in 2004. She is the fourth overall top-10 pick out of USC and highest since 1997 when Tina Thompson was No. 1 and Pam McGee was No. 2. Rayah Marshall scored the 25th overall selection, picked in the second round by the Connecticut Sun.
Both Trojan post players were instrumental 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 in 2024-25. With work from Iriafen and Marshall in the paint, the 2025 Trojans amassed a 31-5 overall record while getting back to the NCAA Elite Eight.
A WBCA Coaches' All-America Team selection and unanimous selection to the 2025 All-Big Ten First Team, 6-3 post player Iriafen shined brightly in her first season as a Trojan. She notched 12 double-doubles in her senior season at USC and averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor. Also effective from the stripe, Iriafen ranked No. 38 in the nation with 142 free throws made. She also ranked nationally at No. 15 with her 4.1 offensive rebounds per game and was top-40 in points and field goals made while also earned spots on the AP and USBWA All-America Third Teams.
Iriafen produced team-high scoring in USC wins over ranked Maryland, Ohio State and Illinois teams during conference play. Against top-10 opponents this season, Iriafen shot a hot 91.4 percent from the free-throw line and upped her rebounding and assists efforts, averaging 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in helping her Trojans post a 5-3 record against top-10 teams. Iriafen's 2024-25 awards list also included 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. She also was a repeat finalist for the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year award, which she won as a junior at Stanford.
Marshall's senior season also saw her earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as well as a place on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Earlier in the season, she was named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watch List and the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists. A 2023 All-Pac-12 Team and All-Pac-12 Defensive Team honoree, Marshall was a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist in that sophomore season. As a junior, Marshall recorded double-doubles in five of USC's seven postseason games, in which the Trojans won the 2024 Pac-12 Tournament Championship and went on to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reach the Elite Eight.
This is the fifth time ever that USC has had two players selected in a WNBA Draft, following Forbes and Davis' picks in 2024 prior to Sissoko and Adika in 2023. In 2012, USC had Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath picked, and in 1997 Pam McGee and Tina Thompson were USC draftees, with Thompson selected as the No. 1 overall pick that year.
In 2024, USC grad students McKenzie Forbes (Los Angeles Sparks) and Kaitlyn Davis (New York Liberty) were selected as the 28th and 35th overall picks, respectively, in the third round.
In the 2023 draft, USC had back-to-back picks in the third round, with grad students Kadi Sissoko (Phoenix Mercury) and Okako Adika (New York Liberty) selected as the 29th and 30th overall players chosen, respectively. Sissoko would go on to make the Mercury roster and compete in the 2023-24 season.
In 2016, Temi Fagbenle was picked 35th in the 2016 draft by the Minnesota Lynx. She'd go on to win the 2017 WNBA Championship with the Lynx. In 2014, Cassie Harberts was a second-round selection by the Atlanta Dream. Before that, Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath both were picked up in the 2012 draft and went on to roster spots in the WNBA. Prior to them, Camille LeNoir was selected in the 2009 second round, preceded by 2007 second-rounder Shay Murphy, who would go on to win a WNBA Championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. In addition to 1997 Inaugural Elite Selections Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie, USC now has had 18 players drafted in the WNBA. The first draft in 1997 also saw two Women of Troy taken — Pam McGee and Tina Thompson.
USC's WNBA SELECTIONS
1997 Inaugural Elite Selection
Cynthia Cooper (Houston Comets)
Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks)
First RoundPam McGee (1997, Sacramento Monarchs)
Tina Thompson (1997, Houston Comets)
Ebony Hoffman (2004, Indiana Fever)
Kiki Iriafen (2025, Washington Mystics)
Second Round
Adrain Williams (2000, Phoenix Mercury)
Shay Murphy (2007, Minnesota Lynx)
Camille LeNoir (2009, Washington Mystics)
Cassie Harberts (2014, Atlanta Dream)
Rayah Marshall (2025, Connecticut Sun)
Third Round
Jacki Gemelos (2012, Minnesota Lynx)
Briana Gilbreath (2012, Washington Mystics)
Temi Fagbenle (2016, Minnesota Lynx)
Okako Adika (2023, New York Liberty)
Kadi Sissoko (2023, Phoenix Mercury)
McKenzie Forbes (2024, Los Angeles Sparks)
Kaitlyn Davis (2024, New York Liberty)
Fourth Round
Monica Lamb (1998, Houston Comets)
Nicky McCrimmon (2000, Los Angeles Sparks)
As the No. 4 overall pick by the Washington Mystics, Kiki Iriafen becomes USC's first top-10 WNBA Draft selection since Ebony Hoffman was No. 9 in 2004. She is the fourth overall top-10 pick out of USC and highest since 1997 when Tina Thompson was No. 1 and Pam McGee was No. 2. Rayah Marshall scored the 25th overall selection, picked in the second round by the Connecticut Sun.
Both Trojan post players were instrumental 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 in 2024-25. With work from Iriafen and Marshall in the paint, the 2025 Trojans amassed a 31-5 overall record while getting back to the NCAA Elite Eight.
A WBCA Coaches' All-America Team selection and unanimous selection to the 2025 All-Big Ten First Team, 6-3 post player Iriafen shined brightly in her first season as a Trojan. She notched 12 double-doubles in her senior season at USC and averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor. Also effective from the stripe, Iriafen ranked No. 38 in the nation with 142 free throws made. She also ranked nationally at No. 15 with her 4.1 offensive rebounds per game and was top-40 in points and field goals made while also earned spots on the AP and USBWA All-America Third Teams.
Iriafen produced team-high scoring in USC wins over ranked Maryland, Ohio State and Illinois teams during conference play. Against top-10 opponents this season, Iriafen shot a hot 91.4 percent from the free-throw line and upped her rebounding and assists efforts, averaging 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in helping her Trojans post a 5-3 record against top-10 teams. Iriafen's 2024-25 awards list also included 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. She also was a repeat finalist for the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year award, which she won as a junior at Stanford.
A 6-4 center, Marshall closed out her collegiate career with her 40th career double-double as a Trojan in USC's NCAA Elite Eight showing vs. UConn. She was named to the NCAA Spokane Region 4 All-Tournament Team for her efforts in helping USC to its second consecutive Elite Eight. She stands ranked as USC's No. 19 all-time scorer with 1,258 career points and seventh all-time in career rebounds (1,150) and double-doubles (40). Her blocking ability in particular has been a hallmark for Marshall, who set the USC single-season blocks record as a sophomore and finished her time at Troy as USC's No. 3 all-time shot blocker with 304 — behind greats Lisa Leslie and Cheryl Miller.Kiki Iriafen. Projan. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/RLpVQwHw0l
— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) April 15, 2025
Marshall's senior season also saw her earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as well as a place on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Earlier in the season, she was named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Watch List and the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists. A 2023 All-Pac-12 Team and All-Pac-12 Defensive Team honoree, Marshall was a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist in that sophomore season. As a junior, Marshall recorded double-doubles in five of USC's seven postseason games, in which the Trojans won the 2024 Pac-12 Tournament Championship and went on to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reach the Elite Eight.
This is the fifth time ever that USC has had two players selected in a WNBA Draft, following Forbes and Davis' picks in 2024 prior to Sissoko and Adika in 2023. In 2012, USC had Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath picked, and in 1997 Pam McGee and Tina Thompson were USC draftees, with Thompson selected as the No. 1 overall pick that year.
In 2024, USC grad students McKenzie Forbes (Los Angeles Sparks) and Kaitlyn Davis (New York Liberty) were selected as the 28th and 35th overall picks, respectively, in the third round.
In the 2023 draft, USC had back-to-back picks in the third round, with grad students Kadi Sissoko (Phoenix Mercury) and Okako Adika (New York Liberty) selected as the 29th and 30th overall players chosen, respectively. Sissoko would go on to make the Mercury roster and compete in the 2023-24 season.
In 2016, Temi Fagbenle was picked 35th in the 2016 draft by the Minnesota Lynx. She'd go on to win the 2017 WNBA Championship with the Lynx. In 2014, Cassie Harberts was a second-round selection by the Atlanta Dream. Before that, Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath both were picked up in the 2012 draft and went on to roster spots in the WNBA. Prior to them, Camille LeNoir was selected in the 2009 second round, preceded by 2007 second-rounder Shay Murphy, who would go on to win a WNBA Championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. In addition to 1997 Inaugural Elite Selections Cynthia Cooper and Lisa Leslie, USC now has had 18 players drafted in the WNBA. The first draft in 1997 also saw two Women of Troy taken — Pam McGee and Tina Thompson.
Rayah!!!! https://t.co/gM5ZU9HCWK
— Lindsay Gottlieb (@CoachLindsayG) April 15, 2025
USC's WNBA SELECTIONS
1997 Inaugural Elite Selection
Cynthia Cooper (Houston Comets)
Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks)
First RoundPam McGee (1997, Sacramento Monarchs)
Tina Thompson (1997, Houston Comets)
Ebony Hoffman (2004, Indiana Fever)
Kiki Iriafen (2025, Washington Mystics)
Second Round
Adrain Williams (2000, Phoenix Mercury)
Shay Murphy (2007, Minnesota Lynx)
Camille LeNoir (2009, Washington Mystics)
Cassie Harberts (2014, Atlanta Dream)
Rayah Marshall (2025, Connecticut Sun)
Third Round
Jacki Gemelos (2012, Minnesota Lynx)
Briana Gilbreath (2012, Washington Mystics)
Temi Fagbenle (2016, Minnesota Lynx)
Okako Adika (2023, New York Liberty)
Kadi Sissoko (2023, Phoenix Mercury)
McKenzie Forbes (2024, Los Angeles Sparks)
Kaitlyn Davis (2024, New York Liberty)
Fourth Round
Monica Lamb (1998, Houston Comets)
Nicky McCrimmon (2000, Los Angeles Sparks)
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
C/F
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