ANGUILLA—Anguillian born Mikiah “Kiki” Herbert Harrigan made history on Friday evening, April 17 when she was drafted into the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) league. The WNBA is a professional basketball league in the United States currently composed of twelve teams. Founded in 1996, it is the women’s counterpart to the men’s National Basketball Association (NBA).
Premier Victor Banks echoed the pride of the entire island saying, “We are really proud of Kiki and the real effort that she has put into building her skills and craft. She has represented her university and Anguilla well. This shows that even though we don’t have the resources, that with the talent, we can ensure that the rest of the world notices the talent that we produce. She is a role model for this community.”
The Minnesota Lynx team picked Kiki as their first selection during the first-round 2020 Women’s National Basket Ball Association (WNBA) draft pick. She was the sixth overall pick in a field of 36 players. “I wasn’t expecting my name to get called that early, but it did and I’m happy for that” Harrigan told reporters on a conference call following the draft which was held virtually due to the coronavirus.
Kiki, who relocated from Anguilla to the United States during her pre-teen years, transitioned from playing netball to playing basketball. With her natural athleticism, she helped her Florida high school team win four district championships and was named the 2016 Player of the Year and ‘Queen of the Court’ by the Florida Basketball Coaches Association. Moving on from high school to the University of South Carolina (USC), the six foot 2 inch basketball athlete played forward on the university’s Gamecock female basketball team.
Wearing the number 21, Harrigan racked up numerous ‘firsts’ during her four years with the Gamecocks. Her elite skills contributed to her team winning the coveted 2020 Southeastern Conference (SEC) women’s basketball tournament title where she scored a team-high of 15 points and was recognized as the tournament’s Most Outstanding player.
A billboard has already been erected in Island Harbour to celebrate Kiki’s achievement.
