Okonkwo, Balogun sign WNBA pre-season deal

Nigeria internationals Amy Okonkwo and Elizabeth Balogun have secured training camp contracts ahead of the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association season, as both players look to earn places on their respective teams’ regular-season rosters, PidomNigeria Sports Extra reports.

Okonkwo was re-signed by the Dallas Wings, who confirmed the addition of the Nigerian alongside Costanza Verona, Shyanne Sellers and Dulcy Mendjiadeu as part of their preparations for the new campaign.

“The Dallas Wings have signed forward Amy Okonkwo, guards Costanza Verona and Shyanne Sellers, and forward/centre Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu to training camp contracts, the team announced today,” Wings said on their website.

The 6ft 2in forward returns to Dallas after making her WNBA debut with the franchise in 2025, where she featured in eight games across hardship and rest-of-season contracts.

She made an immediate impression, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while registering double figures in five outings. Her standout performance came in September, when she scored a career-high 20 points in a victory over the Phoenix Mercury.

Okonkwo, captain of Nigeria’s D’Tigress, arrives in camp on the back of an impressive spell in Turkey with Besiktas, where she averaged 14.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.8 steals per game in the KBSL.

A former Texas Christian University standout, she is also a two-time Olympian and two-time AfroBasket Most Valuable Player, having led Nigeria to consecutive continental titles in 2023 and 2025.

Balogun, meanwhile, has joined the Toronto Tempo on a training camp deal, with the club announcing her signing alongside five other players as they build depth ahead of the new season.

The versatile wing brings international experience to the Tempo setup, having played professionally overseas and represented Nigeria at senior level.

Known for her athleticism and defensive intensity, Balogun will compete for a roster spot in what is expected to be a competitive camp environment.

Training camp contracts are short-term agreements that allow players to participate in pre-season activities without a guaranteed place on the final roster. They provide an opportunity for players to showcase their ability in training sessions and exhibition games, while teams assess their suitability before the regular season begins.

Training camps for the new campaign are scheduled to open on April 19, with the WNBA pre-season set to tip off on April 25.

The 2026 season will officially begin on May 8, marking the league’s 30th campaign, as the Connecticut Sun take on the Liberty at the Barclays Center in New York.

Both Okonkwo and Balogun will now aim to convert their pre-season opportunities into full contracts as they seek to strengthen Nigeria’s growing presence in elite women’s basketball.