Record-breaking D’Tigress look to upset Americans

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will be looking to achieve another historic feat at the 2024 Olympic Games against the United States in the quarterfinals of the women’s basketball event on Wednesday (today).

Rena Wakama’s team have dazzled in Paris, brightening Nigeria’s medal chances amid poor performances by several athletes representing the country.

On paper, the African champions face their toughest test yet against the Americans, who are chasing their eight Olympic gold medal in Olympic basketball.

Ending the United States’ 58-match winning streak and run of seven consecutive gold medal hauls at the Bercy Arena on the banks of the Seine River would be a contender for the biggest upset in sporting history.

Having exceeded expectations by making it to the last 16—a feat no other African team has achieved—D’Tigress will believe they can triumph and book a place in the semi-finals.

Speaking ahead of the game, D’Tigress captain, Amy Okonkwo, remained confident the team could get past the Americans.

“You can do hard things. You can do anything that you set your mind to. It doesn’t matter where you’re born or where you come from. You can do it,” she said.

Nigeria opened their campaign with a surprising 75-54 victory against Australia, their first win in the Olympics in 20 years.

They then slumped to a 75-54 defeat to France in their second game before claiming an impressive 79-70 win over Canada in their final group game on Sunday.

The win meant D’Tigress became the first African team (women or men) to reach the knockout round at the Olympics.

The team racked up 40 steals in three group games, five more than the closest team.

D’Tigress will once again bank on star guard Ezinne Kalu, who has driven the team to this stage.

The New Jersey-born point guard and three-time Afrobasket champion was the fifth highest scorer over three games at 19.3 ppg, while Promise Amukamara is tied for third in assists per game at 6.7.

Today’s clash will be the sixth time both sides will be facing off against each other, with the Americans winning all five previous encounters.

The last time they met was in February 2024 during the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament in Belgium, where the US team claimed a resounding 100-46 win.