By Jennifer Amarachi
Rena Wakama, head coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team D’Tigress, has been named Best Female Basketball Coach at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Best coach of #Paris2024 Women’s Basketball, Rena Wakama, Nigeria,” a tweet from the International Basketball Federation’s X handle stated on Sunday evening.
Wakama, 32, led the women’s basketball team to their first Olympic quarterfinals, defeating Canada 79-70.
However, their Olympic quest was cut short when they were defeated by the eventual winners, the United States, 88-74, in the women’s basketball quarterfinals.
Despite this, the team established an impressive record by being the only African basketball team (men and women) to go to the event’s last 16.
Wakama is the first Nigerian National Female Basketball Team coach to win the women’s Afrobasket championship since its inception in 1966.
D’Tigress defeated Senegal 84-74 in the final, making Nigeria the second country to win the title four times in a row.
Indeed, she has made her mark on the history of Nigerian female basketball. The All-Star Five for the events are A’ja Wilson (USA), Gabby Williams (France), Breanna Stewart (USA), Alanna Smith (Australia), and Emma Meesseman (Belgium). Ezinne Kalu, D’Tigress’ point guard and three-time Afrobasket winner, has also been named to the Olympic Women’s Basketball All-Second Team.
Others on the list include Julie Vanloo (Belgium), Satou Sabally (Germany), Valeriane Ayayi (France), and Ezi Magbegor (Australia).
According to FIBA, A’ja Wilson was the MVP of the Women’s Basketball event, with Jade Melbourne (Australia) winning the Rising Star award. Gabby Williams also received the Best Defensive Player Award.
