The USC women’s basketball team once again proved itself to be one of the best teams in the country last season with a historic campaign led by then-freshman JuJu Watkins.
With the Galen Center back in the spotlight this summer, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has been searching the transfer portal for top talent to bolster an already successful team as it prepares for its debut season in the Big Ten.
In addition to a star-studded high school recruiting class, Gottlieb brought in two key talents from two former Pac-12 opponents. Forward Kiki Iriafen, a transfer from Stanford, the runner-up in the 2024 Pac-12 tournament, was the first to join the team, and former Oregon State guard Talia von Oelhoffen joined two days later.
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Iriafen was named the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player of the Year last season, increasing her points per game average from 6.7 in the 2022-23 season to 19.4, with an efficient field goal percentage of 54.6% in the 2023-24 season.
The 6’3″ Los Angeles native was not only a force on offense, she also averaged 11 rebounds per game. This allowed Stanford to quickly create scoring opportunities with her aggressiveness at the basket.
Iriafen joins a USC frontcourt anchored by senior center Rayah Marshall, whose defensive-minded style combined with the transfer’s scoring ability will make the Trojans even more versatile heading into Big Ten play.
Although Stanford had the Pac-12’s best record at the end of the 2023-24 regular season, the second-place Trojans won both head-to-head meetings with the Cardinal, including the Pac-12 championship game, with Iriafen contributing 16 and 18 points in the two meetings, respectively.
With one year of eligibility remaining, Iriafen will look to reach the pinnacle of women’s college basketball at USC before setting her sights on the WNBA.
Iriafen also brings valuable tournament experience to the lineup, having already appeared in March Madness three times. Her breakout season in 2023-24 included a 41-point performance in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament against Iowa State, where she led the Cardinal to an 87-81 overtime victory.
Her playing style is characterized by a stubborn will to get to the basket, as well as a dynamic mid-range shooting technique that always puts her one step ahead of the opposing defenders.
Iriafen signed for USC on April 27th in the wake of former Announcement of the retirement of head coach Tara VanDerveer after 38 seasons at Stanford.
Iriafen’s impressive resume also includes three Pac-12 championships, an All-Pac-12 selection and an Associated Press All-America honorable mention.
It wasn’t long before von Oelhoffen followed her example and, after four successful years at Oregon State University, made the transfer to USC, where she immediately provided the Trojans with much-needed defensive depth.
Von Oelhoffen made a splash last year as the Beavers’ third-leading scorer and primary guard option, averaging 10.7 points and 5 assists for a team that advanced to the Elite Eight along with USC.
Although her point totals dropped from the previous season, she increased her assist average by 1.7 per game and showed her star potential in key battles. Against Iriafen’s Cardinal on February 29, von Oelhoffen scored a season-high 27 points in a close loss for Oregon State.
While Watkins controlled USC’s backcourt in 2023-24, the departures of graduates McKenzie Forbes and Kayla Padilla left a void for a second backcourt option to complement Watkins’ fast-paced, high-scoring offensive scheme. On April 29, von Oelhoffen committed to Gottlieb’s regime, giving the program another gutsy guard.
Von Oelhoffen started all 35 games for the Beavers last season and showed her versatility by hitting 45 3-pointers while being a real threat on defense. A two-time All-Pac-12 player, von Oelhoffen added another to her accolades by earning Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention status in 2023-24. She showed off her defensive skills in two matchups against USC last season, in which Oregon State limited the Trojans to under 60 points in both games.
Her skills on and off the ball will give USC plenty of scoring opportunities, and her veteran experience — coupled with Iriafen’s — will be crucial as the Trojans welcome the nation’s top high school recruiting class, according to ESPN.
As USC strives for championship greatness not achieved in over 40 years, Gottlieb’s newly assembled, versatile group will look to shock the Big Ten and bring trophies back to the Galen Center.
