Kiki Iriafen walked into Spokane Arena on Friday, filled with memories from her freshman year at Stanford. Three years ago, she celebrated with her teammates after a big win that took them to the Final Four. Now a senior at USC, she hopes to finish her season in a similar way.
However, the USC Trojans face a tough challenge. They recently lost their star player, JuJu Watkins, who tore her ACL in a game. This injury came just as the team was gearing up for the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. Despite this setback, Iriafen and her teammates remain determined to pursue their goal of winning a national championship.
Iriafen expressed confidence in her team, stating, “We are fighters.” The Trojans are keeping their focus on their objectives, even as they deal with the emotional impact of Watkins’ injury. The support for Watkins has been overwhelming, with messages of encouragement flooding in from coaches and former players alike.
USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb took a moment to give her team a day off after they secured their spot in the Sweet 16. This time allowed the players to process their feelings and regroup. When they returned to practice, Gottlieb emphasized the importance of belief and love within the team. She stated, “There’s a lot of belief in our team… the prevailing feeling is that we can still do something together.”
Watkins has been a key player for USC this season, leading in scoring and contributing significantly in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Her absence will be felt, but Iriafen believes that the team can rise to the occasion. “Nobody can replace JuJu. She’s one of one,” Iriafen said, but she added that the team can step up in various ways to fill the gap.
The Trojans are now preparing for a challenging matchup against Kansas State. The first few practices without Watkins have been an adjustment, but her spirit remains with the team. Before the Trojans left for Spokane, Watkins shared her pride in her teammates and confidence in their abilities. Iriafen noted, “We still feel her presence even though she might not be with us physically.”
As the Trojans move forward, they are focused on supporting each other and making the most of their opportunity in the tournament.