Ex-Teammate Kiki Iriafen reveals her heartfelt gesture for Cameron Brink after season-ending injury
Former Stanford standouts Kiki Iriafen and Cameron Brink played together between 2021 and 2024. After the 2023-24 season, both players left the Cardinal and went separate ways. Brink declared for the WNBA draft, while Iriafen transferred to USC.
The Los Angeles Sparks selected Brink second overall in this year's draft. However, her rookie campaign came to an abrupt end after she suffered an ACL tear in a game against the Connecticut Sun in June.
In an interview with CBS Sports this week, Iriafen opened up about the support she offered her teammate following her season-ending leg injury.
"I sent flowers to her house when I heard the news, Kiki said. "But I've been to some of her games this season, I got to see her and chat a little bit ... Cam is so competitive, so even with this injury, I know she's going to come back even stronger." [Time Stamp - 2:11]
"I'd say she was able to showcase a lot more of her game than she was in college, she added. "I think that's such a great role model and someone that I was able to play with closely and see how she was able to do really well in the [WNBA] and kind of emulate myself for that next year."
Moreover, Kiki Iriafen also sent her wishes to Brink, who got engaged to her long-time boyfriend Ben Felter this week.
"She [Cameron] just got engaged. Congrats Cameron! Love you, girl." Kiki said.
Kiki Iriafen shares her excitement joining the USC
Kiki Iriafen, the 2024 Katrina McClain Award winner, has yet to win the national championship. She aims to fill the void with USC featuring one of the biggest college basketball stars, JuJu Watkins.
"[0:19] I'm excited. I love these girls, I grew up playing with a lot of them so now to be teammates is super super special and then to be back home in LA with my family is great," Kiki spoke about coming to USC.
Besides Talia von Oelhoffen, Kiki Iriafen is the second player to have joined the Trojans from the transfer portal.
Since USC will be competing in the Big Ten from the upcoming season, Lindsay Gottlieb's team will have fierce competition. But this duo, along with Watkins, would provide a major boost to their roster.