D’Tigress Fall to South Korea in World Cup Opener

Nigeria’s D’Tigress commenced their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign with a defeat against South Korea, losing 99–81 in Berlin, Germany, on Friday. This loss extends Nigeria’s unfavorable record against Asian teams in the global tournament and leaves them without a victory in their opening World Cup match.

South Korea took control of the game through consistent offensive pressure, forcing Nigeria to chase the game for most of the contest. Despite efforts to narrow the gap, D’Tigress were unable to mount a sufficient comeback, resulting in an 18-point loss.

The defeat places Nigeria in a challenging position as they prepare for their next Group B match against Hungary, which is crucial for their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage of the competition.