Nigeria's women's national basketball team, D'Tigress, lost 89–63 to the Los Angeles Sparks in a preseason game at Viejas Arena, San Diego. This marked the first time an African national team faced a WNBA side. The game, played on Tuesday, exposed gaps in execution as Nigeria struggled with turnovers and shooting efficiency. Los Angeles led 27–17 in the first quarter and extended their advantage to 44–29 by halftime. The Sparks shot 49.2 per cent from the field and 35.5 per cent from three, while Nigeria managed 37.0 per cent and 16.7 per cent respectively. Nigeria committed 24 turnovers, which the Sparks converted into 26 points. D'Tigress recorded 30 points in the paint and had 14 assists, compared to Los Angeles' 25. Assistant coach Wani Muganguzi led the team in the absence of head coach Rena Wakama, who remains with the Chicago Sky. Four players—Suzie Rafiu, Regina Donanu, Jerni Kiaku, and Vera Ojenuwa—did not play, highlighting the focus on evaluation. Veterans Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Victoria Macaulay, Nicole Enabosi, and Pallas Kunayi-Akpanah featured as stabilising figures. The match was part of Nigeria's preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin. D'Tigress are scheduled to play the Minnesota Lynx on 27 Apr.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation is banking on youth while fielding a team that still relies on veterans to steady the ship, yet the 24 turnovers against the Sparks suggest the young players are being tested without adequate safeguards. The 89–63 loss reveals a squad in transition that may not have enough time to gel before facing France, South Korea, and Hungary at the 2026 World Cup. Playing only 17 of 21 camp players in this game signals that selection decisions are still fluid, but the margin for error against elite teams is already gone. The rebuild is visible, but so is its vulnerability.
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