Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, ended their 2024 Olympic Games journey with an 88-74 loss to the United States in the quarterfinals of the women’s basketball event on Wednesday, according to The PUNCH.
While the USA continued their dominance, edging closer to another title defense, Nigeria exited the tournament as basketball heroes. D’Tigress exceeded expectations by reaching the quarterfinals, a milestone no other African team has achieved.
Despite the daunting task of facing the Americans, who are in pursuit of their eighth consecutive gold medal, Rena Wakama’s squad began the game with confidence. A’ja Wilson put the USA on the board first, but Nigeria quickly equalized.
After a slow start, Breanna Stewart broke the deadlock with a transition layup, but Nigeria’s Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah responded immediately, making it 4-4. Jackie Young’s early contributions in defense opened up a gap, forcing D’Tigress to play catch-up.
The game at Bercy Arena was a far cry from the USA’s 56-point win over Nigeria during the February qualifiers in Belgium. Despite losing the first three quarters, D’Tigress staged a remarkable comeback in the final quarter, winning 26-12 and earning admiration from basketball fans worldwide.
D’Tigress leave the Olympics having made a significant impact on the global basketball stage. The U.S. women’s team extended their winning streak, which dates back to 1992 and includes nine Olympic Games and seven straight gold medals.
