As part of Nigeria’s senior national women basketball team, D’Tigress global campaign, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has announced that the team will face the Los Angeles Sparks.
The event will hold at the landmark international exhibition game scheduled for April 25, 2026, at Viejas Arena in San Diego, California, U.S
Akeem Busari, the media coordinator NBBF made this announcement yesterday in Lagos.
He added that the historic matchup forms part of D’Tigress’ broader global preparation strategy ahead of the upcoming international competitions.
This include the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifiers and the team’s continued pursuit of global dominance in Africa and at the international scene.
He said that the fixture, announced as part of the Sparks’ official pre-season slate, represents a significant milestone in the growth and global positioning of Nigerian basketball and women’s sport.
Busari said the game marks the first-ever meeting between D’Tigress and the Los Angeles Sparks, one of the most storied US franchise, Women National Basketball Association (WNBA).
“It also signals Nigeria’s increasing integration into the global basketball ecosystem and reinforces the country’s reputation as Africa’s leading basketball nation.
“This game is more than a pre-season fixture. It is a statement of intent that “D’Tigress has earned global respect through years of dominance, discipline, and consistency.”
Busari said that D’Tigress competing against a premier WNBA franchise further validates our position and showcases Nigerian excellence on the world stage.”
He said building on a Legacy of Excellence, D’Tigress entered this international showcase as; Multiple-time AfroBasket Champions.
Busari said that the NBBF has remained committed to building a stable, high-performance system, ensuring the competitivenes of Nigerian players.
He said the commitment is that players based in Nigeria and in the diaspora will have a platform to compete at the highest levels.
“The Los Angeles camp and exhibition series are part of a carefully designed high-performance calendar that includes elite player integration and diaspora scouting international exhibitions.
“It also looked at the technical and tactical preparation for global tournaments”
Busari said that the NBBF also confirmed that additional engagements, including community clinics and media activations, will take place around the U.S. camp.
He said the objectives was to further strengthen Nigeria’s global basketball footprint.
“This international showcase aligns with the Federation’s broader commercial strategy, following recent partnerships with leading organisations such as XE Jet.
“This is alongside continued support from corporate stakeholders committed to the growth of Nigerian basketball” Busari said.