Nigeria's D'Tigress lose 105-57 to Indiana Fever in WNBA pre-season, highlighting gaps ahead of Berlin 2026 World Cup
Nigeria’s D’Tigress fell 105–57 to the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sunday, May 3, 2026, closing a tough WNBA pre‑season tour that also saw losses to the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx. The Fever’s fast‑paced offense forced 24 turnovers from Nigeria, held the team to 30% shooting overall and 0‑for‑12 from three‑point range. Shay Ijiwoye led D’Tigress with 10 points, while Ezinne Kalu, Blessing Ejiofor and Vera Ojenuwa each added eight. Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 points, Damiris Dantas 16 (including four threes), and Caitlin Clark contributed 12 points and four assists in limited minutes.
The result highlights the cohesion and execution gap between Nigeria’s rebuilding side and elite WNBA competition, serving as a benchmark ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin. Coaches have identified ball security, shooting efficiency and defensive organisation as priority areas for improvement.
Will the D’Tigress coaching staff implement stricter ball‑handling drills and better perimeter shooting programs before Berlin, or will they rely on the existing talent pool to close the gap?