Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, concluded their impressive run at the 2024 Olympic Games with an 88-74 loss to the United States in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Despite the defeat, D’Tigress emerged as basketball heroes, having surpassed expectations by reaching the last 16—a milestone no other African team has achieved.
Under the guidance of Rena Wakama, the Nigerian team was undaunted by the formidable USA squad, which is in pursuit of its eighth consecutive gold medal. D’Tigress started strong, matching the Americans point-for-point in the early stages.
However, the USA’s depth, featuring eight former No. 1 overall WNBA draft picks, proved too much. Jackie Young’s early defensive efforts helped the Americans pull ahead, forcing Nigeria to play catch-up for most of the game.
The encounter at Bercy Arena was far from the USA’s 56-point rout of Nigeria in February’s qualifiers, with D’Tigress showing resilience, especially in the final quarter. Despite losing the first three quarters, they outscored the USA 26-12 in the last quarter, earning admiration from basketball fans worldwide.
The U.S. women’s team continues their win streak, which dates back to 1992 and includes nine Olympic Games and seven consecutive gold medals. Meanwhile, D’Tigress head home with their heads held high, having made a significant impact on the global basketball stage.