Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, suffered their second consecutive defeat on their United States tour, losing 88-79 to the Minnesota Lynx in a closely fought encounter on Tuesday.
The game, played at the T-Mobile Centre in Kansas City, saw the Nigerian side deliver a more competitive performance compared to their opening loss.
Playing under assistant coach Wani Muganguzi, in the absence of head coach Rena Wakama, who is currently on WNBA duty with the Chicago Sky, D’Tigress showed clear improvement from their 89-63 defeat to the Los Angeles Sparks.
The team matched their opponents across all four quarters and demonstrated better cohesion in both attack and defence.
D’Tigress began brightly, with Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu, Suzie Rafiu, Uche Izoje and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah setting the tone in a fast-paced opening quarter.
TheTimes Nigeria reports that the first period ended narrowly at 27-26 in favour of Minnesota, reflecting the evenly matched contest. The Lynx edged the second quarter 19-17 to take a slim 46-43 lead into halftime, maintaining pressure on the Nigerian side.
Minnesota gradually asserted control in the third quarter, outscoring D’Tigress 21-16 to extend its advantage.
Although Nigeria kept fighting, the Lynx maintained their edge in the final quarter with a 21–20 margin, sealing a nine-point victory in front of 6,510 fans.
Ezinne Kalu was the standout performer for Nigeria, leading the scoring with 25 points in an impressive offensive display.
Gabby White added 16 points, continuing to impress as she adapts to her evolving role within the team. Kunaiyi-Akpanah contributed 11 points, while Izoje added eight, as D’Tigress showed improved balance in attack.
Despite the loss, Nigeria dominated the boards with 36 rebounds compared to Minnesota’s 25 and also led in steals, 8-5.
However, shooting efficiency proved costly, with D’Tigress converting 40 per cent of their field goals against the Lynx’s 50 per cent.
Minnesota also held a clear advantage in assists, recording 23 to Nigeria’s 11, reflecting superior ball movement and chance creation.
Both sides scored 32 points in the paint, but the Lynx capitalised on fast-break opportunities, posting 13 points compared to Nigeria’s seven.
Competitive Contest Despite Defeat
The game featured six lead changes and was tied five times, underlining its competitiveness.
However, Minnesota’s biggest lead of 15 points ultimately proved decisive.
Courtney Williams led the Lynx with 17 points, while their bench contributed 43 points, significantly higher than Nigeria’s 28.
Despite the defeat, D’Tigress displayed encouraging signs, particularly with a youthful and experimental squad assembled as part of a rebuilding process.
The 21-player camp roster is dominated by athletes from the American collegiate system, with 15 players drawn from 14 NCAA programmes.
Emerging talents such as Gabby White, Stephanie Okechukwu, Shay Ijiwoye, Nora Ezike, Uche Izoje and Danielle Osho are among the new generation being integrated into the team.
TheTimes Nigeria understands that the US tour forms part of preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, where Nigeria will compete in Group B alongside France, South Korea and Hungary.
With one game left in the three-match series, D’Tigress will aim to build on their improved performance when they face the Indiana Fever on Saturday.
The coaching crew is expected to continue assessing tactical combinations and team chemistry against top-level WNBA opposition.
