Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has soared to a historic 8th place in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, released on August 14, 2025, becoming the first and only African team (male or female) to break into the global top 10, as confirmed by FIBA’s official website.
The team’s climb from 11th to 8th, with 640.1 points, follows their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title win in Côte d’Ivoire, defeating Mali 78-64, and their groundbreaking quarter-final run at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Led by coach Rena Wakama and powered by stars like Amy Okonkwo, who averaged 14.9 points per game, D’Tigress secured their seventh overall AfroBasket crown and a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The team’s official X handle celebrated, stating, “The D’Tigresses sit pretty at #8 in the latest FIBA rankings. Nigeria, this is for us.”
The achievement highlights Nigeria’s unmatched dominance in African basketball, with Mali, the next highest African team, ranked 18th globally after a six-place jump.
The United States leads the rankings, followed by Australia, France, China, and Belgium. This milestone shows Nigeria’s growing influence, with the team’s historic Olympic performance and 29-game AfroBasket winning streak since 2015 solidifying their elite status.
