The Unrivaled Basketball League has officially announced the appointment of Rena Wakama, current head coach of Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, as the new head coach of Hive BC. Wakama will lead the team in its debut campaign during the league’s second season, set to tip off in January 2026.
Hive BC is one of two expansion franchises joining the Unrivaled League, a groundbreaking women’s 3×3 basketball competition in the United States co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier in 2023. The league launched its inaugural season in early 2025 with six teams and is now expanding to eight.
Wakama’s appointment comes on the heels of her historic achievements with D’Tigress, including back-to-back FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles in 2023 and 2025, and leading Nigeria to a quarter-final berth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — the first African team, male or female, to reach that stage.
“Rena Wakama will lead Hive BC in the team’s Unrivaled debut, following her first season as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky,” the league stated in its announcement.
The 33 year old coach, who became the first female head coach of D’Tigress in 2023, continues to break barriers and inspire a new generation of African coaches and athletes. Her transition to Hive BC reflects the growing global recognition of African talent in elite sports.