D’Tigress Take on America: Nigeria’s Queens of Basketball Face WNBA Giants in Bold World Cup Warm-Up Tour

Posted by Chinenye on Fri 24th Apr, 2026 - tori.ng

Nigeria’s D’Tigress are heading to the United States for a tough three-game exhibition tour against top WNBA sides in Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Indianapolis as they gear up for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany.

(The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). Photo Credit: Brila. net)
In preparation for their 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Germany, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) yesterday announced an ambitious international exhibition tour of the United States for the nation's senior women's basketball team, D'Tigress.

D'Tigress will play elite teams from the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in three major American cities, according to a formal announcement released by the federation yesterday.

D'Tigress will play the Los Angeles Sparks in San Diego on Saturday, April 25, 2026, to start their USA tour. On April 27, they will play the Minnesota Lynx in Kansas City. The club will play the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis on May 2 to wrap off their series.

The games, according to NBBF, are a strategic chance for the players to test their skills against top-tier opponents while reaffirming the dedication to creating a high-caliber team that can compete on a worldwide scale.

NBBF President Amadu Musa Kida was cited in the announcement as saying, "This tour represents more than preparation, it represents intent."

"D'Tigress have become a powerful force in Africa, but our goals are worldwide." Kida, who also serves as Chairman of the board of Nigeria's national oil and gas company, NNPCL, emphasized that "every action we take now is with the World Cup in mind."

The team's tactical and physical development will be improved by playing against elite WNBA teams, according to head coach Rena Wakama, who also stressed the significance of the exposure.

These kinds of opportunities are essential to our team's development. It enables us to strengthen our sense of self and create the unity required to be successful in the global arena, Wakama noted.

In his response, Ugo Udezue, chairman of the NBBF's Sponsorship and Marketing Committee, emphasized that the project aims to establish D'Tigress as a worldwide sports brand while enhancing interaction with Nigerians living abroad.

Important partners, such as Flutterwave and XE Jet, are anticipated to help the trip with digital infrastructure and logistics, respectively.