The Mystics select USC’s Kiki Iriafen with the No. 4 pick in the WNBA draft.
A big night for another Nigerian star in the WNBA and Kiki Iriafen wasn’t shy to represent hsr country and culture.
She forever represents her Nigerian roots for the big night, she brought her culture to the orange carpet.
Only four other players of Nigerian origin have been drafted higher than Iriafen in the history of the WNBA Draft.
Sportsintel shares a lowdown on the top Nigerian drafts in the WNBA.
Liz Cambage was selected at number two overall in 2011.
The Tulsa Shocks chose Liz, a 19-year-old, who was enjoying a sensational month. She won the WNBL title with the Bulleen Boomers and was named the WNBL MVP for the 2010-11 season.
Liz Cambage played for the Australian women’s national team, including a friendly against Nigeria that turned into a brawl.
Nneka Ogwumike, first overall pick in 2012.
Nneka’s selection began the Ogwumike dynasty in the WNBA, arriving before her sister did a few years later as the number in her draft class.
She was drafted on April 16, 2012, by the Los Angeles Sparks as the number one player.
A 6-foot-2 power forward, she was the first Stanford player taken No. 1 in the WNBA.
Nneka went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year award that same year.
Chiney Ogwumike, first overall pick in 2014
She followed in her sister’s footsteps, topping her draft class.
Chiney’s selection by the Connecticut Sun came with a piece of history.
They became the second pair of siblings, each taken No. 1 overall in their respective drafts. (The Sparks made Nneka the top pick of the 2012 WNBA draft.).
And Evelyn Akhator, the third overall pick in 2017.
The Dallas Wings took Kentucky’s versatile 6’3 forward, Evelyn Akhator, with the third pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft.
The selection makes her the highest draft pick in the University of Kentucky’s history. Akhator is the third player in program history to be a first-round selection and the first since A’dia Mathies in 2013
Out of the top five, only Evelyn Akhator has put on the colours of the Nigerian women’s team, D’Tigress.
Iriafen is tied for fourth overall pick with Elizabeth Williams (2015).
