The quarterfinal at the Paris 2024 Olympics saw a fine display from Nigeria’s D’Tigress before they were finally bowed to Team USA with a score of 88–74. This was a squarely contested game where the robust defense by Nigeria ensured the scoreboard remained within close contention in the first half, before Team USA finally pulled clear through its deep bench and class.
It was the first time any Nigerian men’s or women’s basketball team had advanced to this level in Olympic basketball. Throughout their remarkable run, their showmanship amazed fans across the world, including theirs in the nation of Nigeria, by their resilience and sheer will.
A’ja Wilson led the USA with 20 points, while Jackie Young had 15 points. Although the Americans never trailed, Nigeria’s late-game surge cut the deficit to single digits for a more respectable margin.
The game, which drew basketball royalty to the arena, was attended by LeBron James and his wife Savannah James, as well as NBA star Bam Adebayo.
D’Tigress end the tournament with their heads held high after making history led by standout performances from Ezinne Kalu and Amy Okonkwo. Team USA will face Australia in the semifinals on August 9 while the inspiring journey of Nigeria in Paris comes to an end.
