ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Wondering who the best players heading to Abidjan for the 2025 Women's AfroBasket are? There are many that are worth your time, but we picked ten players you must at the Abidjan 2025 showpiece.
In no particular order, here are ten outstanding players:
Ndioma Kane (Senegal)
Having already played on the big stage, featuring for Senegal Lionesses at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Rwanda where she made the team of the tournament, and the Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgium, Ndioma Kane makes her Women's AfroBasket debut. In Rwanda, she was the top scorer for the Lionesses, with an average of 16.6 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. She was the most efficient player on her team, with an average rating of 21.4.
The Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) is already a well-known figure to the Senegalese basketball fans. As they try to end Nigeria's five-year winning streak and win their first title, she will be key.
Jane Asinde (Uganda )
Asinde was the Uganda Gazelles' undisputed leader in the qualifying gameses, averaging 18.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in five games, on her way to being named MVP. In the 2023 edition where Uganda finished seventh, having qualified on a wild card, the forward averaged 13 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She, alongside the unavailable Jannon Otto, led the East African's onslaught in an edition that saw them defeat record champions Senegal in the group phase. Asinde, who recently joined Spanish second-tier side Azulmarino, is expected to push Gazelles quest to move further up on the rankings.
Leia Dongue (Mozambique)
The Mozambique power forward brings incredible experience for the side after a career spanning two decades.
Having made her Women's AfroBasket debut in 2009, at 18, settling for sixth, Dongue was part of the squad that came close to a maiden title, as hosts, in 2013, falling 64-61 in overtime to Angola. She has won the African club championship MVP twice (2014 and 2015) and has been an household name for the Mozambicans. She is making her seventh appearance in the tournament. In 2023, Dongue averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in six games as the side settled for fifth.
Dulcy Fankam (Cameroon)
A second round 21st overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm, Fankam was quite the revelation in 2021 for Cameroon as she made her competition debut, helping the team to the podium (bronze) for the first time since their silver in 2015. She averaged 10.4 points and 9.6 rebounds in five games. She makes a return after missing the 2023 edition held in Kigali, Rwanda, where Cameroon finished sixth. Her addition adds to the Central Africans' depth as she was key in their qualification, contributing 12.5 points on average in the two matches played. She is also bringing EuroCup experience to the squad, having averaged 13.8 points and 7.9 rebounds in 11 matches in the competition.
Amy Okonkwo (Nigeria)
The D’Tigress captain, Okonkwo, has been part of Nigeria's success story for since her debut at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 where Nigeria finished 11th. A two-time Olympian, having played in Paris, she brings a wealth of experience from her club basketball journey in Spain, France and Mexico. She has been to two Women AfroBaskets, lifting the title in 2021 and 2023 when she was also named tournament MVP. The forward averaged 17.4 points and 8.2 rebounds in Kigali for the accolade.
Kaba Masseny (Guinea)
In her second Women’s AfroBasket assignment, power forward Masseny Kaba led her side to the Quarters after stunning favourites Angola 71-69 in the round of 16.
She recorded a double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds, as Guinea rallied for a 26-16 final quarter to claim the hard-fought victory. Since 2023, the American-Guinean has been a mainstay for Angers in French Division One. Her performance in 2023 was a significant improvement from her debut in 2021 and as she competes her third event, the experience gained could push Guinea to cause some more upsets.
Ingvild Mucauro (Mozambique)
With Mucauro on the floor, Mozambique become defense monsters. That was evident when they suited for the last Women's AfroBasket where they kept their loses to below 59 points.
Making her fifth appearance in the competition since 2015 (missing 2017), the doctor by profession is key for the Sale Nasir-coached side. She averaged 12.8 points in 2023 and 15 points in their loss to Angola in the 2025 Qualifiers. After back-to-back fifth place finishes, the three-time silver medalists will rely on her prowess on both ends of the court, combining with veterans Dongue, Covane sisters Carla and Vania and Silvia Veloso, among others to chase a first podium finish since silver at home in 2013.
Sika Kone (Mali)
Despite their dominance in youth competitions, Mali continues to chase the Women's AfroBasket title, with their wait spanning 18 years now. The have won one silver and three bronze in the last four editions.
Kone, a 2021 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup All-Star, adds immense experience from the 2023 Kigali AfroBasket, the FIBA World Cup and the WNBA where she turns out for Washington Mystics. A EuroLeague Women Young Player of the Year, Kone averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds at the 2023 women's event as Mali settled for bronze. She has won the U16 and U18 tiles, but can Mali go the distance in Abidjan to complete her collection?
Kariata Diaby (Cote d'Ivoire)
Diaby, who recently had a brief stint with the WNBA franchise Connecticut Sun, last played for her country at the 2017 Women's AfroBasket and her return, for a third appearance for the side, is already creating a buzz. Back then, she averaged 10 points and 6.9 rebounds, a massive improvement from her debut event in 2013 at 18. She has, however, ammased a wealth of experience from the EuroCup women where she has featured for three teams since 2012. Her 2025 performance saw her drop 11.5 points and 8.1 rebounds on average in 15 matches for Tango Bourges.
Bella Murekatete (Rwanda), [main image]
As Rwanda battle for a maiden podium finish in Africa, the first Rwandese woman to play NCAA Division I basketball, will make her debut in the premier African competition with expectations high. Last year, she turned heads, commanding praise from high places, including NBA star Klay Thompson, as she led Rwanda to the semifinals of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament played in Rwanda. This was the 6-foot-3 center's first major international tournament with Rwanda, and she finished with a tournament-high 17.7 points and 11 rebounds per game, going on to be named in the all-tournament team. As she goes up against the best in Africa,any hope she could replicate her U18 (2018) and U16 (2015) performances, where she registered double-doubles on average with 16.8 points and 13.7 rebounds and 14.3 points and 22 rebounds, respectively.
FIBA