As WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called USC Trojans‘ Kiki Iriafen‘s name as the fourth overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics, a look at her table showed that there was no mistaking her cultural identity: her entire family were all fitted out in traditional Nigerian attire.
And then there was Iriafen herself.
Clad in a stunning gold outfit, she was transformed from Kiki into Okikiola, a name that means ‘fame that brings prosperity or wealth,’ a fitting name for the new star. Draped in culture, stitched with pride, and finished with the unmistakable flair of Naija, Iriafen was stepping into a legacy.
“I wanted to look good, I wanted to feel good,” she said in her post-Draft interview. “This dress was designed by Nigerian designer Nneka Alexander and I just wanted to show off my culture on this big stage.”
Alexander, who also previously worked with fellow Nigerian-American WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike, made a gown with intricate detailing and a silhouette fit for a queen. Iriafen’s look wasn’t just fashion. It was a declaration. A declaration of her deep connections to her…
