Fans can hardly wait to see the powerhouse pairing of JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen take the court by storm this season. After a stunning rise in her Junior year with the Stanford Cardinals, where she averaged 19.4 points and 11 rebounds per game, Iriafen is looking to make a mark in Southern California. Behind the scenes, USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb dropped a major insight into how JuJu had a big role in getting Kiki to join the team.

Kiki was named the Pac-12’s most-improved player and a member of the All-Pac-12 team. At Stanford, her stunning season helped the Cardinal grab the Pac-12 regular-season title and a Sweet 16 berth. Apart from that, she dropped a career-high 41 points against Iowa State in the NCAA tournament. Looking at these, Kiki’s commitment to the Trojans indeed turns them into strong contenders. However, according to Gottileb, her addition did not come easily for the Franchise.

When asked about getting Kiki to USC, the coach revealed that during the recruitment process, Kiki was getting calls from Dawn Staley’s powerhouse South Carolina team, which had just won the National Championship. Coach Gottlieb even admitted to feeling a bit nervous, saying, “I got a little nervous. I mean, it’s Dawn Staley… And Kiki said, ‘I think I’m all good. I love what I’ve seen at USC, but I may just visit South Carolina.’”

Kiki, a potential No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, had decided to enter the transfer portal on April 12 following the retirement of legendary Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer. But in the end, Wakins’ presence at USC sealed the deal, and Kiki was all in. It was so big news that the NBA’s biggest news breaker, Adrian Wojnarowski, was the one who broke it.

“JuJu was a huge step for us to get her with our program. To have now another legit National Player of the Year type candidate come and say, ‘I want to play with JuJu,’… I think says a lot,” Gottlieb revealed during her interview with NBC Sports. The head coach also stated how Kiki had to challenge herself after graduating from Standford in three years. She further labeled Wakins and Iriafen as ‘two of the top players in the country.’ 

Also, she heaped praise on Kiki, saying, “She is phenomenal. There’s a lot to talk about JuJu, and rightfully so, but Kiki is going to be a top-three pick in the WNBA draft… It’s unbelievable. I’m grateful that we have her. A little sad that it’s only for one year but we all feel like something special is brewing and she’s unbelievable.” When it comes to the USC stars’ bond, these two have become really close in no time. It was evident during the Big Ten Media Day as they shared a fun moment after a handshake mix-up. 

Later, when Iriafen shared a carousel of the day on her Instagram, writing “Almost that time…”, Watkins replied back, “The Cutest!” Also, USC had its annual photo day, and the athletes’ chemistry shone through in the pictures. From their smiles to their poses, it’s clear these two are having a blast—and that energy is going to translate big time on the court. But why is Kiki’s recruitment is so much significant for the Trojans?

It is to give JuJu the support she needs on the court. Watkins’ starring role was Indeed boosted by some of the players. McKenzie Forbes averaged over 14 points this season and Rayah Marshall was a walking double-double, averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds a game. But there was no one to take the defensive pressure off JuJu. Take USC’s Elite Eight loss to Connecticut as an example. 

Even though JuJu finished with 29 points, she shot an inefficient 9 of 25 from the field. On the other hand, Forbes’ 24 points on 8-for-22 shooting was equally lackluster. Now look at the UConn.

UConn’s duo of Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards dropped nearly identical numbers to Watkins and Forbes (Bueckers and Edwards scored 28 and 24 points, respectively), but they were more efficient. Edwards went 10 of 14 from the floor while Bueckers shot 11 of 23. This allowed the pair to have each other’s back. Understandably, in getting Kiki, the Trojans are looking to replicate the same. And their stats already have created hopes for that.

Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins set to dominate the court

Both JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen are already standout names, but their combined potential is what’s setting USC up for an explosive season. The 19-year-old, who averaged 27.1 points last season, led the Trojans to the Elite Eight as a freshman—a massive achievement. Kiki, on the other hand, had a breakout year at Stanford, averaging 19.4 points and 11 rebounds per game.

The best part is in addition to their statistical achievements, their play styles complement each other perfectly. Watkins’ ability to create her own shot, shoot from long range, and facilitate as a playmaker gives the Trojans a multi-dimensional threat, while Kiki’s ability to dominate in the post and crash the boards adds a strong inside presence. 

USC had a solid 2023-24 season, finishing with an overall record of 29–6 and a 13–5 mark in Pac-12 conference play, tying for second place in the standings. They had an impressive run to the Elite Eight, their deepest tournament appearance since 1994. This season, the expectation is high for the Trojans, and with good reason. With the most talented players in the country, can they leave a mark this season?