Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, delivered a more competitive performance but still fell to an 88-79 defeat against the Minnesota Lynx in their second game of the United States tour.

Playing at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Tuesday, the African champions, led by assistant coach Wani Muganguzi in the absence of head coach Rena Wakama, showed significant improvement from their opening loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

D’Tigress started brightly, matching the Lynx’s intensity in a fast-paced first quarter that ended narrowly 27-26 in favour of the hosts. The contest remained tightly balanced in the second quarter, with Minnesota edging it 19-17 to take a slim 46-43 lead into halftime.

However, the Lynx gradually asserted control in the third quarter, outscoring Nigeria 21-16, before maintaining their advantage in the final period with a 21-20 edge to seal a nine-point victory.

Ezinne Kalu led Nigeria’s scoring with an impressive 25 points, while Gabby White added 16 points in a standout performance. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah contributed 11 points, and Uche Izoje chipped in eight as the team displayed improved attacking cohesion.

Statistically, D’Tigress held their own in several areas, recording 36 rebounds compared to Minnesota’s 25 and edging steals 8-5. Both sides also matched each other with 32 points in the paint. However, Nigeria’s lower shooting efficiency proved costly, converting 40 per cent of their field goals against the Lynx’s 50 per cent, while also trailing in assists 23-11.

Minnesota capitalised on fast-break opportunities, scoring 13 points compared to Nigeria’s seven, and benefitted from superior ball movement, which created higher-quality scoring chances.

The game featured six lead changes and five ties, though the Lynx’s largest lead of 15 points ultimately made the difference. Courtney Williams led the hosts with 17 points, while their bench contributed 43 points, significantly outpacing Nigeria’s 28.

Despite the loss, the performance offered encouraging signs for D’Tigress, particularly with a youthful and experimental squad assembled as part of an ongoing rebuilding process. The 21-player camp roster includes a strong contingent from the American collegiate system, reflecting efforts by the Nigeria Basketball Federation to build depth for future competitions.

The U.S. tour serves as preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, where Nigeria will compete in Group B alongside France, South Korea, and Hungary.

With one game remaining in the three-match series, D’Tigress will aim to build on their improved showing when they face the Indiana Fever on Saturday, as the coaching crew continues to fine-tune tactics and assess player combinations against top-tier opposition.