Rena Wakama, Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has been crowned the Best Female Basketball Coach at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The accolade was officially announced on Sunday evening through the International Basketball Federation’s X (formerly Twitter) handle, marking a historic moment for both Wakama and Nigerian sports.
Wakama, 32, steered D’Tigress to an unprecedented milestone, leading the team to their first-ever quarterfinals at the Olympic Games. Their path to the quarterfinals included a thrilling 79-70 victory over Canada, demonstrating the team’s growing prowess on the world stage. However, their remarkable journey ended in the quarterfinals against the eventual gold medalists, the United States, in a hard-fought match that concluded 88-74.
Despite the loss, D’Tigress emerged as the only African basketball team, male or female, to advance to the last 16 in the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting a new benchmark for African basketball. This achievement under Wakama’s leadership has solidified her status as a trailblazer in the sport.
Wakama’s coaching career has been marked by several historic achievements. She became the first coach of Nigeria’s National Female Basketball Team to win the women’s Afrobasket title, a feat she accomplished in 2023. Under her guidance, D’Tigress defeated Senegal 84-74 in the Afrobasket final, earning Nigeria a record as only the second country to win the title four consecutive times since the competition’s inception in 1966.
Wakama’s recognition at the Olympics is a proof of her exceptional coaching skills and her ability to inspire her team to perform beyond expectations. Her success has not only brought pride to Nigeria but has also elevated the status of African basketball on the global stage.
Meanwhile, D’Tigress’ point guard, Ezinne Kalu, who is a three-time Afrobasket champion, was named to the All-Second Team of the Olympics Women’s Basketball event. This recognition highlights the talent and determination of the Nigerian team, which continues to rise in international basketball.
The All-Star Five of the Olympics Women’s Basketball event included notable players such as A’ja Wilson (USA), Gabby Williams (France), Breanna Stewart (USA), Alanna Smith (Australia), and Emma Meesseman (Belgium). Wilson was named the MVP of the Women’s Basketball event, while Jade Melbourne (Australia) received the Rising Star award, and Gabby Williams was honored as the Best Defensive Player.
