D’Tigress coach inducted into Wake Forest Hall of Fame
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineD’Tigress head coach Rena Wakama has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of Wake Forest High School as part of its Class of 2026.
Wakama was among five honourees celebrated during the school’s induction banquet, alongside Graham Bunn, Ron Daniel, Andre Smith and Earl Smith.
Reacting to the recognition on Tuesday, Wakama credited God and those who supported her journey.
She wrote on Instagram: “All glory to God, the legacy was never mine to keep, only His to build.
“Thank you to my village, this legacy belongs to all of us. Wake Forest High School, thank you.”
The 34-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise in basketball coaching, combining her duties with D’Tigress with her role as head coach of Hive BC and assistant coach at the Chicago Sky.
She made history in 2023 after becoming the first female head coach of D’Tigress.
Wakama also became the first Nigerian to lead the women’s national team to an AfroBasket title since the competition began in 1966.
Under her leadership, Nigeria claimed a fifth consecutive AfroBasket crown and seventh overall after defeating Mali 78–64 in the final in Abidjan in August 2025.
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Wakama further boosted her profile at the 2024 Olympic Games after D’Tigress became the first African basketball team, male or female, to reach the quarter-finals following a 79–70 win over Canada.
The achievement earned her the Best Coach award from the International Basketball Federation.
Following Nigeria’s triumph at the 2025 AfroBasket Championship, President Bola Tinubu rewarded players and officials of the team with cash bonuses, houses and national honours.
Each player received $100,000, a bedroom flat and the Officer of the Order of the Niger honour, while members of the coaching crew got $50,000, similar housing allocations and the same national honour.
Wake Forest High School, a public secondary institution in North Carolina, recognises former students, staff and contributors who have made significant impacts in sports, education and the wider community through its Hall of Fame programme.
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