Shocking Move: Stanford Star Kiki Iriafen Enters Transfer Portal After VanDerveer’s Retirement
Stanford’s best player for the 2024–25 season is leaving the university, four days after head coach Tara VanDerveer announced her retirement. According to a person with access to the transfer portal who spoke with The Athletic, junior Kiki Iriafen entered the platform bearing a “do not contact” marking.
At VanDerveer’s retirement news conference on Wednesday, Iriaden remained ambiguous about her future and shrugged her shoulders when SF Gate inquired about her return to the Cardinal.
Her departure from Stanford follows a wave of talent that has been leaving the school over the past two years via the portal, including Lauren Betts, the number one overall recruit in 2023.
Iriafen led the Cardinal to the Pac-12 regular-season championship in 2023–24, averaging 19.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Additionally, she was given the Katrina McClain Award, which recognizes the nation’s top power forward. Iriafen scored 41 points in Stanford’s second-round victory over Iowa State, which stands as one of the most memorable performances of the NCAA Tournament. Nevertheless, the Cardinals would eventually fall in the following round.
Given the “do not contact” notice, Iriafen probably knows where she is going next. She may follow her old teammate Betts to Southern California, where UCLA and USC might both benefit from her skill set as a power forward, considering that she is from Los Angeles. During high school, Iriafen also had offers from Baylor, UConn, and Notre Dame; all three of those institutions would be excellent fits for the star paint scorer. Iriafen needs to be thinking about that as she enters her last collegiate season because the latter two of those programs have a proven track record of preparing players for the professional.
With a rookie head coach and no true star players, Stanford, on the other hand, seems content to accept a transition year in its inaugural season in the ACC. Elena Bosgana, who averaged 6.7 points per game last season, is the top scorer who is back from the team.
(Photo: Tyler Schank / Getty Images)