Meet the woman behind Nigeria's historic Olympic basketball milestone
On August 5, 2024, at the Paris Olympics, Rena Wakama etched her name in Nigerian history as the coach who scripted, directed and led the execution of the country’s women’s basketball team to their first quarter-final qualification, since 2004.
Early Life and Education
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on April 11, 1992, Wakama pursued her education at Western Carolina University, graduating with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation in 2014. She later earned an MBA from Manhattan College in 2019.
Professional Journey
Wakama's professional basketball career began in 2014 as an athlete with FIBA in the United Kingdom. She played four years with the Western Carolina Catamounts before moving to Nigeria, where she played for Nigeria’s First Bank team in the Africa Champions Cup and the Women’s AfroBasket tournament in 2015.
In 2017, Wakama became the director of basketball operations at Manhattan College, overseeing administrative affairs. Over six seasons, she transitioned to the roles of Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. She also served as an assistant coach for Tulane University's women’s basketball team and spent a year as an Assistant Coach at Stony Brook, beginning in July 2023.
Achievements
Wakama's prominence grew when she led the D’Tigress to their fourth consecutive AfroBasket title in 2023, becoming the first woman to win the tournament. She later guided the team to Olympic qualification and now their historic quarterfinal entry since 2004.
Under her guidance, Manhattan College achieved a 21-11 record in the 2021-22 season, marking the most wins in a single season since 2010-2011 and the team's third straight winning season.
Wakama's leadership and strategic capabilities have not only brought success to Nigeria's women’s basketball team but also inspired many in the sport. Now, Rena is hoping to continue her historic adventures as her team faces the defending champions, the US women's team on August 7, 2024.
