D'Tigress blend experience and fresh firepower for historic WNBA Test Series
African champions Nigeria’s D’Tigress are stepping into a bold new chapter, unveiling a 21-player training camp roster ahead of their landmark 2026 WNBA friendlies.
Head coach Rena Wakama has struck a careful balance between proven pedigree and emerging promise, assembling a squad that reflects both the team’s dominant present and its ambitious future. At the core are familiar pillars of success, Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, and Victoria Macaulay players who have consistently carried Nigeria’s identity on the continental stage.
Alongside them comes an exciting wave of new energy. Names like Oluchi Okananwa, Stephanie Okechukwu, Uche Izoje, and Danielle Osho headline a group of rising talents eager to earn their first taste of international action and stake their claim in the national setup.
The full roster includes Promise Amukamara, Shay Ijiwoye, Donanu Regina, Jerni Kiaku, Ezinne Kalu, Oluchi Okananwa, Gabby White, Nora Ezike, Victoria Macaulay, Vivian Iwuchukwu, Pallas Kunayi-Akpanah, Suzie Rafiu, Danielle Osho, Nicole Enabosi, Maryam Dauda, Rita Igbokwe, Stephanie Okechukwu, Uche Izoje, Vera Ojenuwa, Favour Nwaedozi and Blessing Ejiofor.
D’Tigress will test their strength against elite WNBA opposition, opening against the Los Angeles Sparks on April 25, before facing the Minnesota Lynx on April 27 and closing the series against the Indiana Fever on May 2.
However, the squad is not without notable absentees. Team captain Amy Okonkwo is currently tied to a training camp contract with the Dallas Wings, while Elizabeth Balogun (Toronto Tempo) and Murjanatu Musa are also missing, likely due to club commitments. Their availability remains uncertain, given the fluid nature of training camp deals.
Beyond the results, these friendlies represent something deeper, a proving ground. For Wakama, it’s a chance to test the squad’s depth, integrate new voices into the system and sharpen the team’s edge ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin this September.
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