Who Is Rena Wakama; The 1st Coach To Lead Nigeria To Beat A 3rd Ranked Team In The World?
Rena Wakama has made history as the first basketball coach to lead Nigeria to a stunning victory over a top-ranked team.
On Monday morning, the Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, triumphed over the world’s third-ranked team, Australia, with a 75-62 win at the ongoing Paris Olympics.
This victory marks Nigeria’s first Olympic match win in 20 years and highlights a significant milestone in Wakama’s coaching career.
Rena Wakama’s appointment as the head coach of the senior women’s basketball team by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on June 30, 2023, was aimed at revitalizing the D’Tigress.
Her two-year contract has already started bearing fruit, as demonstrated by this historic Olympic victory.
Wakama has also become the first female coach to lead the D’Tigress to an opening game win at the Olympics and the first female coach to qualify Nigeria for the Olympics.
She is also the first female coach to win Afrobasket.
So, who exactly is Rena Wakama?
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wakama hails from Rivers State.
Wakama is the daughter of Rosana Oba. She has two sisters, Yvonne and Mina.
Her basketball journey began at Forest Rolesville High School, where she displayed remarkable talent, averaging 14.9 points, 2.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game as a senior.
Her standout performance earned her All-District Second Team honours and Team Most Valuable Player during her junior year.
Wakama’s collegiate career at Western Carolina University further revealed her prowess, where she made 121 starts and averaged 10.4 points per game in her senior year.
Her academic and athletic excellence earned her a spot on the Southern Conference All-Tournament Second Team and three SoCon Academic Team awards.
Following her graduation, Wakama pursued a professional basketball career in the United Kingdom and the FIBA African Basketball League, and she represented the D’Tigress on the court.
The career of Wakama extended past her playing days as she continued to make valuable contributions to the sports realm by serving as an assistant coach for the Carolina Flames AAU organization, a team in which she had previously been a player.
Furthermore, Wakama served as the director of women’s basketball operations and assistant coach at Manhattan College.
Beyond her coaching duties, Wakama holds a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation and an MBA.
She also contributes to her community as a personal trainer and substitute teacher in the Wake County Public School System.
Rena Wakama’s historic achievements as a coach, combined with her extensive experien ce as a player and educator, signal a new era for Nigerian women’s basketball.
As the D’Tigress continue their Olympic journey, Wakama’s leadership promises to inspire and elevate the team to unprecedented heights…….See_More
