D’Tigress guard Gabby White says representing Nigeria on the international stage fulfils a long-standing dream rooted in her family’s basketball legacy, as she prepares for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin.
White is the daughter of former Nigeria international Joanne Aluka-White, who represented the country at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and was part of the Nigerian team that recorded the country’s first-ever Olympic basketball victory. Joanne is now an associate head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, where Gabby is set to continue her collegiate career after transferring from Virginia.
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The young guard said following in her mother’s footsteps has always been an ambition, while also stressing her desire to establish her own identity with the national team.
“Representing Nigeria has always been a dream for me because of my family and everything my mum achieved with the national team. I want to follow in her footsteps, but I also want to make my own mark with D’Tigress,” White said.
White’s emergence has added another promising young talent to a D’Tigress squad undergoing a generational transition ahead of the global tournament. She was part of Nigeria’s 21-player squad for the team’s United States training camp and WNBA tour earlier this year.
The guard impressed during the tour, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds against the Minnesota Lynx as D’Tigress pushed the WNBA side before eventually losing 88-79.
White believes her biggest contributions to the national team will come through her defensive intensity, energy and aggressive approach.
“I think my strengths are my defence, my energy and my aggressiveness. I want to bring those qualities every time I step on the court and help the team in whatever way I can,” she added.
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will take place in Berlin, Germany, from September 4 to 13, with Nigeria drawn in Group B alongside France, Hungary and South Korea.
With D’Tigress continuing preparations for the tournament, White is determined to build on her impressive introduction to international basketball and contribute to Nigeria’s challenge against the world’s best teams.
For the youngster, however, the opportunity carries an additional meaning: continuing a family connection to Nigerian basketball while beginning a chapter of her own.
