During their next visit to the United States, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will play the Los Angeles Sparks in a historic preseason match.
The WNBA team confirmed that the matchup will take place at Viejas Arena on April 25. An African national team will play a WNBA team for the first time. Additionally, it will be the first time both parties have met.
“The Sparks will host the Nigerian Women’s National Team at Viejas Arena on the San Diego State University campus on Saturday, April 25 at 12 p.m. to kick off preseason play,” the team announced.
For the Sparks, who will be visiting San Diego for the first time since May 2010—when they defeated the Chinese national team 78-58 in the city’s debut WNBA game—the match has extra significance.
The trip supports D’Tigress’ ascent to prominence on the global scene. After winning a record-breaking fifth straight AfroBasket championship, the team travels to the US as the defending African champions.
The tour is a part of the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s (NBF) approved preparations for a challenging international schedule.
Nigeria will play the Minnesota Lynx on April 27 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, two days after taking on the Sparks. The Lynx’s preseason schedule also features games against Toronto Tempo, an expansion team, and the Washington Mystics.
Only four WNBA teams have faced foreign teams before, including the Lynx match. However, D’Tigress has met the US national team at significant competitions, thus they are accustomed to facing top-tier American opposition.
Nigeria’s preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which will be held in Berlin from September 4–13, includes the US tour. The draw will take place at Kraftwerk Berlin on April 21.
During the March qualifying series, D’Tigress had mixed success, losing to South Korea, France, and Germany while defeating Colombia and the Philippines.
Their AfroBasket victory had already earned them qualification, and the qualifications were primarily used as training.
The statement stated, “The Board reviewed and approved preparations for the Federation’s major 2026 international engagements, including: The WNBA preparation tour and strategic exhibition engagements.”
“Men’s FIFA World Cup Qualifier Windows 3 and 4.” Extra international and continental contests on the authorized schedule
