Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, suffered their second consecutive defeat on their United States tour, falling 88–79 to Minnesota Lynx at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Despite the loss, the Nigerian side showed marked improvement compared to their earlier defeat against Los Angeles Sparks.
Led by assistant coach Wani Muganguzi in the absence of Rena Wakama, the team delivered a competitive performance across all four quarters.
Ezinne Kalu led the scoring with 25 points, while Gabby White added 16 points in an impressive display.
Other contributors included Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah and Uche Izoje.
Although Nigeria dominated rebounds and steals, they struggled with shooting efficiency and assists, allowing Minnesota to capitalize on fast-break opportunities.
The match featured six lead changes and five ties, but the Lynx’s superior ball movement and bench strength proved decisive.
The tour is part of preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, where Nigeria will face France, South Korea, and Hungary.
D’Tigress will conclude the tour with a final game against Indiana Fever as they continue to build squad depth and tactical cohesion.
