Nigeria’s D’Tigress may have fallen short of clinching a spot in the Paris Olympics, but they leave the court with a significant slice of history, thanks to their daring coach, Rena Wakama.
Breaking boundaries and shattering expectations, Wakama’s leadership saw the team not only compete against some of the world’s best but also secure victories that will be remembered for years to come.
The Trailblazing Rena
Wakama’s journey with D’Tigress is nothing short of remarkable. Appointed just a year ago, she became the first female head coach in the history of Nigerian basketball. Under her guidance, D’Tigress achieved their first Olympic win in two decades and made history by becoming the first African basketball team, male or female, to secure two wins in a single Olympic Games. More impressively, Wakama led her team to the quarterfinals, a first for an African basketball team.
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Nigerian parents from Okrika in Rivers State, Wakama pursued her education at Western Carolina University, earning a degree in therapeutic recreation in 2014. Her time at the university also saw her excelling on the basketball court as a member of the women’s basketball team. Wakama’s playing career extended to representing the First Bank of Nigeria team at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women.
Her coaching journey began in 2015 when she joined the Nigerian female basketball team’s coaching staff. Her contribution was instrumental as D’Tigress secured a third-place finish at the Women’s Afrobasket competition in Cameroon. Two years later, they claimed the Afrobasket title, heralding a new era in Nigerian women’s basketball.
Wakama’s appointment as head coach in June 2023 was a bold and visionary move by the Nigerian Basketball Federation. Within a month, Wakama led D’Tigress to victory at the Women’s Afrobasket tournament in Kigali, Rwanda, becoming the first female coach to win the game since its inception in 1966. Her name was already being etched into the annals of basketball history.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games saw Wakama and her team continue to exceed expectations. On July 29, 2024, they stunned the world by defeating Australia, marking their first Olympic win in 20 years. This was followed by another groundbreaking victory on August 4, 2024, when they overcame Canada 79-70, securing their place in the quarterfinals and demonstrating the team’s remarkable growth under Wakama’s leadership.
Although their journey ended with a loss to the United States in the quarterfinals, Wakama’s impact is undeniable. In just a few months, she achieved what no other African basketball coach had ever accomplished. She reignited the passion for women’s basketball in Nigeria, inspired a new generation of players, and brought global attention to the potential of African teams on the world stage.
Rena Wakama’s legacy is now firmly etched in the history of Nigerian sports. She not only led D’Tigress to unprecedented heights but also paved the way for future generations of female athletes and coaches. As Nigeria and the world celebrate these milestones, Wakama’s name will be remembered as the woman who dared to dream big and, in doing so, transformed the landscape of African basketball forever.
