D’Tigress guard Ezinne Kalu has expressed her delight at making history with her recent signing to the WNBA, hoping her achievement will pave the way for more players from her Community.
The 32 year-old joined the Atlanta Dream following her impressive performances at the Olympic qualifiers in Paris, becoming the first Black athlete from a historically Black college to play in the WNBA in over 15 years.
Kalu celebrated this milestone with a statement on her X handle on Thursday.
“Recently, I found out that I was the first athlete from a historically Black college to play in the WNBA in over 15 years, and I couldn’t make this statement any more true.
“Delayed does not mean denied. Blessed to be the first while praying I’m not the last,” wrote the Savannah State University graduate.
Kalu, who has represented Nigeria in the 2017, 2019, and 2021 Afrobasket championships, played a key role in helping D’Tigress secure three consecutive titles as Africa’s top-ranked team.
She was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2019 Women’s Afrobasket.
Additionally, Kalu earned a spot in the Paris Olympic qualifiers’ All-Star squad, further solidifying her impressive career.