Rena Wakama, the trailblazing 32-year-old coach of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has been named the Best Coach of the Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics by FIBA (International Basketball Federation).
This recognition comes after she led the Nigerian team to a historic achievement—becoming the first African basketball team, male or female, to reach the Olympic quarterfinals.
Under Wakama’s leadership, D’Tigress recorded their first Olympic victory in two decades, defeating Australia 75-62, and went on to secure a quarterfinal spot after a 79-70 win over Canada. Though they were eventually defeated 88-74 by the United States, the eventual gold medalists, their spirited performance captured global attention.
Beyond the Olympics, Rena Wakama also made history in 2023 as the first Nigerian female head coach to win the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title since the competition began in 1966.
Her leadership, resilience, and tactical brilliance continue to inspire a new era in African basketball.
Keep winning, Rena!