“Go time!”: USC’s Kiki Iriafen gets excited for teammate Talia von Oelhoffen’s 'final lap' ahead of the 2024 season
After three years at Oregon State, Talia von Oelhoffen is all set for her new season with the USC Trojans. Her teammate, Kiki Iriafen, is also excited about it as she will be working closely with von Oelhoffen and JuJu Watkins in leading the team.
On Thursday, Talia von Oelhoffen shared her photographs in the Trojans uniform with the caption:
"final lap 🏎️ #year4"
An excited Kiki Iriafen commented on the post, writing:
"Go Time!!!"
Iriafen and von Oelhoffen have previous experience in guiding their former teams to consistent victories. The Trojans exited after the Elite Eight last season and the addition of these two players is expected to boost their chances for a deeper post-season run.
Talia von Oelhoffen explains her reason behind the move to USC
In the 2023-24 season, Talia von Oelhoffen averaged 10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Like JuJu Watkins with the Trojans, von Oelhoffen led the Beavers to the Elite Eight round last season, where they lost to the eventual NCAA champions, South Carolina.
When asked for the reason behind the transfer to USC, von Oelhoffen said:
"For me, it was just the opportunities in LA, playing for Coach Lindsay. I think the pro style they play translates to the W[NBA], which is my ultimate goal.
"Just the opportunity to play point guard for potentially a national championship team under Coach Lindsay, who sends people to the W and is just so smart in so many ways and an amazing staff, amazing players, I loved everything about it."
Coach Lindsay Gottlieb has been making important moves in the off-season to secure a well-rounded team. With a No. 1 recruiting class joining this season, she needed experienced veteran players to guide them. When asked about Talia von Oelhoffen and her skillset, Gottlieb said:
“Talia is an all-conference player who led her team to an Elite Eight. Her basketball IQ is off the charts, and she’s incredibly versatile. I think we’ll see her thrive in an up-tempo system, and she’s gifted at making those around her better.
"She’s coming to USC to help us win at the highest levels and will provide leadership that’s so important to any team with championship aspirations. I cannot wait to have her in a Trojan uniform.”
Playing in an all-new conference, the USC Trojans are set to begin their 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 against Ole Miss.
Also read: "Smile if you're surprised": USC's Talia von Oelhoffen reacts to teammate JuJu Watkins named as Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year