Head coach of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, Rena Wakama, has added another feather to her cap with her appointment as head coach of Hive BC for the upcoming 2026 season of the Unrivaled Basketball League.
Wakama, who made history by leading D’Tigress to back-to-back FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles in 2023 and 2025, will now guide one of the league’s two new expansion franchises as Unrivaled gears up for its second season in January 2026.
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Her appointment underscores her growing reputation as one of the brightest coaching minds in modern basketball. Wakama also led Nigeria to a historic quarter-final finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the country’s best-ever performance in women’s basketball at the Olympics.
The announcement came as the league unveiled its full coaching lineup for the 2026 campaign. Wakama will work alongside an elite pool of coaches, including Noelle Quinn (Breeze BC), Andrew Wade (Laces BC), DJ Sackmann (Lunar Owls BC), Zach O’Brien (Mist BC), Roneeka Hodges (Phantom BC), defending champion coach Nola Henry (Rose BC), and Teresa Weatherspoon (Vinyl BC).
Her appointment to the U.S.-based professional women’s league marks another milestone for African basketball, highlighting Nigeria’s growing influence on the global stage.
Wakama’s blend of tactical intelligence, leadership, and international experience is expected to make Hive BC one of the most exciting teams to watch in the upcoming season.
