Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has been placed in Pot 2 for the draw of the 2026 FIBA World Cup, which will take place in Berlin on April 21. This edition will mark an expansion of the tournament from 12 to 16 teams, with nations such as the United States, France, and Australia in Pot 1. D’Tigress will be making their third World Cup appearance after 2006 and 2018, and are preparing intensively with a WNBA tour in the United States, where they will face several top-level teams. The draw will determine their opponents for the competition, which will be held in Germany from September 4 to 13.

LaMelo Ball, the Hornets’ point guard, avoided a suspension after being penalized with a Flagrant 2 foul on Bam Adebayo during a play-in game against the Heat, where Charlotte won in overtime. Although Ball was fined $60,000 for the foul and for inappropriate comments in a postgame interview, he expressed relief that he did not cause a serious injury to Adebayo. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called the play dangerous but agreed that Ball should not face additional punishment. Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball is focused on the upcoming game against the Magic, aiming to end the Hornets’ nine-year playoff drought.

Ezi Magbegor, a WNBA star, recently signed a three-year contract with the Seattle Storm worth an estimated AUD 1.8 million per year, making her one of the highest-paid Australian female athletes. After celebrating this major milestone with her family in Melbourne, she expressed gratitude for the support she has received throughout her career. Magbegor, who won a WNBA championship in 2020 and has competed in two Olympic Games, is now preparing for the new WNBA season starting May 9, while also looking ahead to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in September. She is also excited about the return of her compatriot Jade Melbourne to the team and the growing opportunities for Australian players in the league.