Who Is Rena Wakama? Everything You Need to Know About the Nigerian Women’s Basketball Team’s Head Coach

Nigeria is jubilant. Nigeria’s women’s basketball team has won everyone’s hearts and put African basketball on the map as they became the first-ever team (Men or women) from the continent to sail through the quarter final in the Olympics. The women, led by head coach Rena Wakama, scripted history as they triumphed over Canada 79-70. While the players have been brilliant throughout, credit has to go to Wakama, who has completely transformed the Nigerian basketball landscape in over a year. 

Rena Wakama was an unpopular name in the basketball world but she has done wonders ever since she was appointed as a head coach of the national team last year in June. To add more weight to her appointment, Wakama was the first ever female who was given the charge of D’Tigress and undoubtedly she has been phenomenal so far. Today we delve into this player-turned-head coach’s achievements and her career background.

Rena Wakama’s Journey from Player to Pioneer

So, the story starts in Raleigh, North Carolina, on April 11, 1992. That’s when Rena Wakama was born and caught the basketball bug early, thanks to her cousin, Onimisi Aiyede. Wakama headed to Western Carolina University in 2010. She wasn’t just there to chill; she was ballin’ hard for the Catamounts! After grabbing her degree in Therapeutic Recreation, she decided to level up and got an MBA from Manhattan College. 

Her pro basketball journey kicked off in 2014 when she became an athlete of FIBA in the United Kingdom. However, Wakama had her patriotism calling, which pushed her to switch countries and join FIBA Africa, representing Nigeria on the court. Rocking it for her country, she played for Nigeria’s First Bank team in the Africa Champions Cup. The major breakthrough happened in Cameroon when she donned the Nigerian jersey in 2015 Women’s AfroBasket tournament. But wait, there’s more!

In 2017, Rena traded her jersey for a suit and became the Director of Basketball Operations at Manhattan College. She was the boss and handled budgets, expenses, and all that admin stuff. She spent six seasons at Manhattan College, starting off as the Director and then transitioning to the role of Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the last four.

Right now, she’s also an assistant coach for the Tulane University women’s basketball team. Before joining Tulane, Wakama spent a year as an Assistant Coach at Stony Brook, beginning in July 2023. But let’s focus on the ongoing exciting chapter of her career as head coach of D’Tigress. It’s been a remarkable year for Wakama.

Rena Wakama’s Impact on D’Tigress

Rena Wakama announced her name out loud when she led D’Tigress to their fourth consecutive 2023 AfroBasket title. She became the first woman to win the tournament. Well, it was just the first of many milestones as later on Wakama helped her team to qualify for the Olympics.

And when everyone would have thought Nigeria will have another Olympics to forget quickly, Wakama’s team shocked everyone when they upset Australia in their first game and gave Nigeria their first victory in the last 20 years. However, they had a bump when hosts France overpowered them in their second game.

Nevertheless, with the victory against Canada, D’Tigress must be confident about the road ahead. Rena Wakama’s journey from an under-the-radar figure to a trailblazing head coach has inspired a continent. Her leadership has elevated Nigeria’s women’s basketball team to historic Olympic success, igniting hope and pride across Africa, and she will look to continue the story in the quarter finals.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.