D’Tigress head coach Rena Wakama has been appointed as Hive BC’s new manager. She will lead the team in the 2025-2026 Unrivalled Basketball League season.
The Unrivalled League launched in January 2025. WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier co-founded it. The league began with six teams. It will expand to eight franchises next season.
League officials confirmed Wakama’s appointment on Thursday. She joins seven other coaches for the upcoming season.
“Rena Wakama will lead Hive BC in their Unrivalled debut,” the league announced. “She previously served as assistant coach for the Chicago Sky.”
Wakama also coaches Nigeria’s national women’s team. She made history in 2024. Her D’Tigress became Africa’s first basketball team to reach Olympic quarterfinals.
Historic Coaching Achievements
The 32-year-old coach has risen rapidly. She guided D’Tigress to consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles. These came in 2023 and 2025.
Wakama became the first female head coach to win the tournament. She achieved this historic feat in August 2023. Her team repeated the victory in 2025.
Nigeria also reached the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinals under her leadership. This marked another milestone for African basketball.
Before her national team success, Wakama coached at U.S. universities. She served as assistant at Tulane and Stony Brook.
Her coaching career began at Manhattan College. She started as director of basketball operations. Later, she became assistant coach.
As a player, Wakama starred at Western Carolina University. This experience shaped her coaching philosophy.
She now joins notable Unrivalled League coaches. The group includes Noelle Quinn, Andrew Wade, and Teresa Weatherspoon. Defending champion Nola Henry is also among them.
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