The United States basketball system has played a major role in the development of Nigeria's national women's basketball team, known as D'Tigress.
Several players in Nigeria's FIBA Women's World Cup pool were born or developed in the USA, went through the NCAA system, or have connections to the WNBA.
Protland Fire's Amy Okonkwo began her college career at USC before transferring to TCU, where she became the Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year.
Ezinne Kalu played at Savannah State, finishing her career as the first player in program history to score more than 2,000 points.
Elizabeth Balogun's college career took her through Georgia Tech, Louisville and Duke. She was named ACC Freshman of the Year at Georgia Tech and reached the Elite Eight with Louisville before completing her college career at Duke.
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah played four seasons at Northwestern, developing into one of the Big Ten's leading rebounders before spending time with the Chicago Sky.
Promise Amukamara played at Arizona State, while Enabosi starred at Delaware.
Head coach Rena Wakama has connections to both levels herself. She played college basketball at Western Carolina and is now an assistant with the Chicago Sky.
Those ties were evident during Nigeria's World Cup preparation, when D'Tigress played exhibitions against three WNBA teams, the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever, before continuing their preparations in China and Europe.
Ezinne Kalu
If there is a heartbeat to this D'Tigress team, it is Kalu. The 34-year-old point guard is the most experienced major-tournament player in Nigeria's current pool, having played at the 2018 World Cup, the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and four Women's AfroBaskets.
Kalu produced arguably the best basketball of her international career in Paris, averaging 18.5 points, four assists and three rebounds in four games.
She remains Nigeria's primary playmaker. At the World Cup qualifying tournament in March, Kalu averaged 9.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
As the team head to Berlin, she is calling for Nigerians in Germany to give D'Tigress something approaching home support.
"We are heading to Berlin for the World Cup, and we need our people there to support us," Kalu said in an Instagram post.
"So we need every Nigerian near Berlin to come through. Bring your flag, your voice and energy."
Amy Okonkwo
Okonkwo has established herself as one of the best players, if not the best, in African basketball. The 6-foot-2 forward has won consecutive Women's AfroBasket MVP awards after leading Nigeria to the 2023 and 2025 championships.
The WNBA player averaged 14 points and six rebounds at the 2025 tournament and scored 19 points while playing all 40 minutes of the final against Mali.
Her ability to score inside, stretch defenses from the perimeter and rebound gives coach Rena Wakama one of her most versatile offensive options.
Berlin will be Okonkwo's World Cup debut, but hardly her first experience at this level. She played at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and has been a central figure in Nigeria's last two AfroBasket championships.
At club level, she has traversed Europe, and has also held her own with short but remarkable stints in the WNBA with Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream and currently Portland.
Victoria Macaulay
The veteran center, who was born in New York, was arguably Nigeria's best performer during the March qualifying tournament. She averaged a team-leading 13.6 points and produced a team-best 16.4 efficiency rating over five games.
The Temple grad brings considerable international experience despite never having played at a World Cup, having represented Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics and at the 2019 and 2025 AfroBaskets.
Alongside Musa and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, she gives Nigeria size, experience and physicality in the frontcourt.
Elizabeth Balogun
Balogun could be one of Nigeria's most intriguing players in Berlin. The guard averaged 10.6 points during the qualifying tournament and then produced one of the standout performances of Nigeria's World Cup preparation, scoring 26 points in an 88-77 victory over China in August.
Like Okonkwo, Balogun will be making her World Cup debut despite already having significant global tournament experience. She represented Nigeria at both Tokyo and Paris and was part of the 2023 and 2025 AfroBasket championship teams.
Balogun has also added another American professional connection to the roster after signing a development-player contract with the New York Liberty.
