Nigerian ladies made history when they sealed the final eight spots in basketball in Paris. And this success wouldn’t have been possible if their roster wasn’t brimming with experienced and talented players who have delivered just what was needed from them. In this historic D’Tigress squad, there is a promising name for the basketball world: Promise Amukamara.

At 31 years old, the point guard has truly been the playmaking backbone of her team, racking up 20 assists so far in the Olympics. This impressive feat has made her the assistant leader for the D’Tigress. Today, we’ll dive into her background and see just how her wealth of experience can be a game-changer as the African team faces off against Team USA in the quarterfinals.

The journey and the roots of Promise Amukamara

Promise Amukamara is a hooper with deep roots in both the US and Nigeria. Born in New Jersey, the United States, Amukamara comes from an Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria, and she’s one of six kids, the fourth to join the family. The crazy fact is that you might be familiar with her second name already if you follow football. She already has that athletic environment, as her brother is a big-time football player, Prince Amukamara, a Super Bowl champ who used to play in the NFL for the New York Giants.

Promise was raised in America, and she found her groove in Arizona, where she went to Apollo High School. After completing that chapter, Promise then decided to take her basketball talents to Arizona State University. That’s where she honed her skills and became the player she is today. Undoubtedly, she made her college proud, becoming the first women’s basketball graduate from Arizona to shine in the Olympics, not just once, but twice.

However, Promise’s first big moment came in 2015, when she got drafted into the WNBA. She ended up being the Phoenix Mercury’s pick in the third round. But things didn’t quite work out as planned, as she never got featured in the WNBA. Then, instead of chasing hoops in the States, Amukamara took the less-traveled road, which sometimes leads to amazing places. She decided to take her game overseas. Currently, she is making waves in France, playing for Chanay BB.

However, this player was never confused when a dilemma came across her journey, which shows the patriotism running in her blood. Let’s delve into her achievements with the Nigerian national team.

Promise Amukamara’s dedication and impact on the Olympic stage

Being born and raised in the US, she could’ve easily rocked the red, white, and blue if she wanted to. But she chose a different path, as the girl decided to return to her roots and play for Nigeria. Earlier in an interview, Amukamara shared the reason for choosing Nigeria: “The No. 1 reason is because I’m Nigerian, of course, and it’s just an honor to be able to represent your country. Just to make my parents proud so they can see their child compete for a country that they’ve lived in their whole life. I wanted to make my family proud, and that’s what I did.”. 

And Amukamara has well delivered on all the promises Nigerians can expect from her, as she won two gold medals with D’Tigress in the Afro Basket tournament in 2019 and 2021. Also, this is not her first time on the grand stage, as the point guard made her Olympic debut in Tokyo itself. She put up solid numbers, averaging 10 points per game in the Olympics in 2021.

Fast forward to the Paris Olympics, and she has done a significant job as she averages 10.3 points per game for her nation. In the first game against Australia, she snatched 14 points, the second highest after Ezinne Kalu, the leading point scorer for D’Tigress in the tournament. Her major contributions have been on the playmaking front, as she has made 6.7 assists and 3 rebounds per game.

Promise Amukamara’s journey from New Jersey to leading Nigeria in the Olympics highlights her dedication and talent. Now, the point guard will have a tough mission to crack on August 7, when her team will face the tournament favorites, the USA in the quarterfinals. But Amukamara has that experience, which will be crucial for D’Tigress if they want to go through it.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.