Lindsay Gottlieb, the head coach of the USC Trojans women’s basketball team, has seen many talented players pass through her program over the years. In the recent 2025 WNBA draft, two of her former players were selected to join the professional ranks. Kiki Iriafen was picked fourth overall by the Washington Mystics, while Rayah Marshall was chosen by the Connecticut Sun in the second round.
Iriafen wasted no time making an impact in her WNBA debut against the Atlanta Dream, showcasing her skills with 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists. On the other hand, Marshall faced a tougher road as a second-round pick, needing to prove herself to earn playing time with the Sun.
The highlight of the weekend came when the Mystics and Sun faced off, pitting Iriafen and Marshall against each other as former teammates. Gottlieb, proud of their journey from playing together in LA to competing in the WNBA, shared a heartwarming post on social media.
As Gottlieb celebrates the success of her former players, she also focuses on the future of the USC Trojans. With the departure of Iriafen and Marshall, she has been working tirelessly to recruit top transfers to fill the void. Washington State transfer Dayanna Mendes is one of her recent additions, bringing her talent to USC after a strong freshman year at her previous school.
Joining Mendes are transfers Kara Dunn from Georgia Tech and Londynn Jones from UCLA, adding depth and skill to the Trojans roster. Gottlieb is eager to see how these new additions will fit into her system and contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming season.
While Gottlieb navigates the challenges of rebuilding her roster, she remains focused on developing her players both on and off the court. With a mix of experienced transfers and young talent, she is determined to lead the USC Trojans to continued success in the competitive world of women’s college basketball.
As the season approaches, fans eagerly await to see how Gottlieb’s new recruits will gel with the returning players and compete at the highest level. USC’s journey under Gottlieb’s guidance promises to be an exciting one, filled with growth, challenges, and the pursuit of excellence in women’s basketball.
