D’Tigress Assistant Coach Abi Olajuwon has publicly criticized the Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF and Ministry of Sports for failing to pay her allowances from the 2024 Olympics.

D’Tigress made made history in the tournament by becoming the first African basketball team to reach the quarterfinals.

In a series of Instagram posts, Abi voiced her frustration over the unpaid wages.

She tagged FIBA, D’Tigress, the Olympics, and ESPNW, revealing that while some players received payment, it was significantly less than what the Ministry had promised.

“To go to the Olympics and experience something my Father did with the USA was a dream,” she shared. “I wanted to be at the Opening Ceremony since I was 8 at the Atlanta Olympics, but Nigeria denied women’s basketball and then had the Minister tell us we are young enough to go to the next one.”

Abi further elaborated on the role she and other assistant coaches played in D’Tigress’ historic run.

“Assistant Coaches put blood, sweat, and tears into making sure players accomplished history.”

“Assistant coaches scouting Germany, Serbia, Japan, Australia, France, Canada, and the USA losing 14 now (not 60 in February) helped Coach Rena Wakama get Coach of the Year with FIBA.”

“To now lie and not pay your coaches for their work, and keep my money for the three games before the Olympics because I work in the WNBA, is sad.”

She didn’t hold back when addressing the situation with the players either, adding:

“It’s sad that players (the ones who got paid) received less than what was promised by the Ministry. It is also sad that the Assistant Coaches aren’t getting our money at all and are now being ignored. We made history… Give what was promised.”

Abi also shared a screenshot of a group chat where Coach Rena Wakama allegedly removed her, suggesting an attempt to silence her.

“Asking for updates for over two weeks about payment of allowances and being ignored privately and in the group text… Is the solution to pay your assistant coaches their ‘allowances’ for their work? Nope! Have the Head Coach remove you from the group chat. I’m okay with speaking up when others are scared to. They said I should receive confirmation of what was allotted for staff, but I guess they will let me know a different way.”

Abi Olajuwon: A Brief Background

Abi, the daughter of former NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon, was born in Houston, Texas.

She made a name for herself in high school, leading her Californian team at Marlborough School to three consecutive Southern Section titles.

Drafted 28th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2010 WNBA draft, she was waived during the season but continued her career internationally, playing for Hungarian SEAT-Lami-Véd Győr and CSM Satu Mare in Romania.

In 2011, Abi returned to the WNBA with the Tulsa Shock and later concluded her playing career with the Spanish club, Caja Rural Zamarat.

Transition to Coaching

Abi transitioned into coaching in May 2014, becoming an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at California State University, Fullerton.

She later served as an assistant coach for the Eastern Michigan Eagles in 2016, and in 2018, she joined the Texas Christian University, TCU Horned Frogs women’s basketball coaching staff.

On December 27, 2022, Abi was announced as an assistant coach for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

Most recently, she played a pivotal role as one of Coach Rena Wakama’s assistants during the 2024 Olympics, where D’Tigress made history.