Since its inception, the WNBA has played host to several one-of-a-kind players.
These players are cut from a different cloth. Their dominance in the WNBA is well documented, and their legacies are embedded into the fabric of the league’s history.
We call these players unicorns. Any franchise lucky to have one of these unicorns seemingly hits the fast track to at least one WNBA championship.
On Monday, the Washington Mystics may have welcomed the WNBA’s newest unicorn to the nation’s capital: Kiki Iriafen.
Kiki’s Rise to Prominence
Thanks to a remarkable junior season, Iriafen burst onto the scene in college basketball in 2023. Iriafen averaged 19.4 points and 11.0 rebounds while shooting 54.6% from the field, earning a spot on the 2023-24 All-Pac-12 team.
She finished in the top three in several major statistical categories, including points, points per game, rebounds, rebounds per game, field goals, and field goals attempted.
As great as Iriafen’s regular season was, her dominance would reach new heights during the March Madness tournament.
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In a thrilling overtime win over Iowa State, Iriafen dropped 41 points, shooting 53% from the field, while snagging 16 rebounds.
During this game, Iriafen cemented herself as the best post player in the country, began drawing comparisons to A’ja Wilson, and made it clear to the world that hers was a name to watch.
After a dominant junior year, Iriafen transferred to USC for her senior season, maintaining her status as the country’s premier post-player alongside sophomore sensation Juju Watkins.
While many had concerns that her draft stock may have taken a hit due to her decision to play alongside Juju, those concerns did not prevent the Mystics from selecting her with the fourth pick in Monday’s draft.
New Era Calls for a New Unicorn
The Mystics drafting Kiki Iriafen with the fourth pick should come as a surprise to no one. They have experience getting the best out of great post players, namely Elena Delle Donne, who many consider to be a unicorn in her own right.
More importantly, there are two key similarities between Delle Donne’s and Iriafen’s play styles.
The most dangerous aspect of Delle Donne and Iriafen’s offensive repertoire is their face-up game. Delle Donne was known for shot fakes and jab steps that created separation from her defender. Iriafen relies heavily on her crafty footwork to create space and attack defenders off the dribble.
Additionally, both players’ versatility allowed them to play other positions.
Delle Donne’s ability to handle the ball like a guard allowed her to play at small forward if the Mystics were looking to play big. Meanwhile, her length allowed her to play center, stretching the floor and causing trouble for opposing bigs.
While Iriafen does not possess the ball-handling skills that Delle Donne did, she can slot into the lineup cleanly as a power forward alongside Aaliyah Edwards and Shakira Austin. Thanks to her length and defensive tenacity, she can also play the center position when needed.
While this sounds good, how will the Mystics ensure they maximize Iriafen’s potential with so much other young talent to foster?
How Does Kiki Fit in DC?
With Edwards, Austin, and Iriafen in their frontcourt, the Mystics couldn’t ask for a more versatile collection of talent.
If all three players share the floor simultaneously, that lineup would likely see Edwards at small forward, Iriafen at power forward, and Austin at center. However, all three can guard numerous positions. This plays perfectly into the Mystics’ goal of maintaining one of the most versatile defenses in the WNBA.
Aside from their versatility, they complement each other well on offense and defense.
Sticking with defense, each player has a unique identity. Austin will remain the primary rim protector in DC. Her length has caused issues for guards driving to the basket and physical bigs in the paint since she entered the league.
Edwards is already an above-average perimeter defender whose physicality and high motor also translate to her post-defense. Iriafen enters the WNBA as the best post defender in this year’s draft class.
Her ability to excel as a post defender will take pressure off Austin and Edwards in highly physical contests, keeping all three as fresh as possible, while potentially forming one of the toughest defensive frontcourts in the WNBA with one of the highest motors.
On offense, the Mystics couldn’t ask for a better complement to Austin and Edwards’ offensive abilities.
Austin has consistently improved as an offensive threat in the WNBA. Improving her ball-handling ability, lending herself to becoming a more significant threat in half-court sets and maintaining her reputation as a rim-running big who can get out in transition.
Meanwhile, Edwards will continue to improve as an initiator of the Mystics’ high-post offense as a midrange threat and a tough finisher. Iriafen’s prowess as a face-up scorer provides a third pick-and-roll option in DC that Washington’s guards can utilize to confuse opposing defenses.
Is Kiki Iriafen DC’s Next Unicorn?
The WNBA has witnessed several unicorns grace the court over its almost 30-year existence. These players are hard to find and seemingly once-in-a-generation.
Kiki Iriafen has teased of being the next unicorn to grace the WNBA. Only time will tell if she will etch her name in WNBA history amongst these special players.
Luckily for Kiki, if there were a franchise a future unicorn would want to go to, it should be the Washington Mystics.
Not only have the Mystics already hosted one of the WNBA’s unicorns, Elena Delle Donne, but they have also found success with other great post players like Chamique Holdsclaw, Emma Messeman, Crystal Langhorne, and Murriel Page.
The question now is how long will it be before Kiki Iriafen etches her name amongst these franchise legends?
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