NewStats: 3,264,757 , 8,184,623 topics. Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 10:04 AM r94h

MSGAMBLE9:
Sad, can she be picked up by other WNBA teams or it's late...


Europe won't be bad sha as long as the team compete in Euroleague

...i think it is still possible to get picked by another team in the W, however, the chances might be slim. She is doing well in Europe, season just ended over there in , if i am not mistaken.

Danielnino00:


This is amazing!

I hope she gets enough game time...

On the downside, she will most likely not be available for the afrobasket, but it's all good

Really amazing, well, let us wait and see, if she gets enough playing time. I think she can show up for afrobasket is she wants too, Kone of Mali also plays in the W, she showed up for the afrobasket...so, let us wait and see..

carbonado:
Really amazing, well, let us wait and see, if she gets enough playing time. I think she can show up for afrobasket is she wants too, Kone of Mali also plays in the W, she showed up for the afrobasket...so, let us wait and see..

Kone wasn't playing, so excusing herself for Afrobasket made sense. It's a little dicy if you're an important part of the team.

I'm not sure Murjanatu is with the Mercury...
I hardly see her in any of the pictures and videos on their social media pages...

lovewins:


Kone wasn't playing, so excusing herself for Afrobasket made sense. It's a little dicy if you're an important part of the team.

It depends on how convincing she and the NBBF will be in making their argument that it would be worthwhile for Kiki to miss the first two weeks of the WNBA season, for the chance to win a first international trophy…

Danielnino00:
I'm not sure Murjanatu is with the Suns...
I hardly see her in any of the pictures and videos on their social media pages...

She just finished with her team on . Her team was in the finals of the french cup, their last game was 2 days ago. What happened was Phoenix added her to the rosterz then suspended her contract till she arrives which is likely this week.

We should start seeing her the next few days. I'm hoping she impresses immediately so she at least stays in roster. She doesn't have a guaranteed contract so they can cut her at any time.

PDPGuy:

It depends on how convincing she and the NBBF will be in making their argument that it would be worthwhile for Kiki to miss the first two weeks of the WNBA season, for the chance to win a first international trophy…

Oh you misunderstood me. Musa can leave if she wants to. The WNBA and her team can't hold her should she decide to participate. I think their CBA contract allows that. Don't forget also it isn't just Afrobasket holding, the Euros will also be holding at about the same time.

My point really is about spot security. The WNBA is very competitive, For context, just 4 of those drafts in the first round of the 2023 draft class are currently on a roster. Just 1 of those drafted in the first round of 2021 is on roster. It shows you how competitive staying on roster is.

For someone like Musa who wasn't drafted, not have US college experience to leverage from, it's very difficult to even get a chance talk less stay on roster. So if hopefully she impresses at Phoenix and begins to get significant minutes, I won't advise that she leaves. I'll rather she stake a claim and build her résumé there. Before you know it, she makes enough noise for teams to start considering g her. Right now, she has no leverage, so why make it easier for you to get kicked of the roster.

Also consider that of she leaves briefly for Afrobasket, they have to sign someone temporarily to take her place imagine they person they sign now impresses, it makes it easier to waive her especially considering she doesn't have a guaranteed contract.

lovewins:


She just finished with her team on . Her team was in the finals of the french cup, their last game was 2 days ago. What happened was Phoenix added her to the rosterz then suspended her contract till she arrives which is likely this week.

We should start seeing her the next few days. I'm hoping she impresses immediately so she at least stays in roster. She doesn't have a guaranteed contract so they can cut her at any time.

No wonder...


That means she didn't partake in the pre season either.
For them to retain her in their rooster despite her not having played for them shows how much they rate her

lovewins:


Oh you misunderstood me. Musa can leave if she wants to. The WNBA and her team can't hold her should she decide to participate. I think their CBA contract allows that. Don't forget also it isn't just Afrobasket holding, the Euros will also be holding at about the same time.

My point really is about spot security. The WNBA is very competitive, For context, just 4 of those drafts in the first round of the 2023 draft class are currently on a roster. Just 1 of those drafted in the first round of 2021 is on roster. It shows you how competitive staying on roster is.

For someone like Musa who wasn't drafted, not have US college experience to leverage from, it's very difficult to even get a chance talk less stay on roster. So if hopefully she impresses at Phoenix and begins to get significant minutes, I won't advise that she leaves. I'll rather she stake a claim and build her résumé there. Before you know it, she makes enough noise for teams to start considering g her. Right now, she has no leverage, so why make it easier for you to get kicked of the roster.

Also consider that of she leaves briefly for Afrobasket, they have to sign someone temporarily to take her place imagine they person they sign now impresses, it makes it easier to waive her especially considering she doesn't have a guaranteed contract.

I get you know, thanks for the detailed explanation.

So, basically, the main issue is the competitive nature of the league being a hindrance to her leaving for the Afrobasket, which is quite understandable.

I think Kanu Nwankwo faced a similar issue, at Arsenal, when he left for the 2000 AFCON. When he returned to Highbury after that tourney, it was difficult for him to displace Henry from the starting line up

Danielnino00:


No wonder...


That means she didn't partake in the pre season either.
For them to retain her in their rooster despite her not having played for them shows how much they rate her

Yes she didn't. But she was putting up big numbers in it would have been malpractice not to at least give her a chance. I watched Phoenix yesterday though and the team is pretty good. She's going to have to makw an impression to get significant minutes

I'm watching the Suns vs Mystics game, and damn... Kiki is good..

We have to get her to commit to us....

Danielnino00:
I'm watching the Suns vs Mystics game, and damn... Kiki is good..

We have to get her to commit to us....

do u think she will commit too us with the way she is going I think US national team will steal her

geonyte:
do u think she will commit too us with the way she is going I think US national team will steal her

I doubt it..

US have a lot of good players in her position already...except she is willing to wait..

The same applies to Arike Ogunbowale

geonyte:
do u think she will commit too us with the way she is going I think US national team will steal her

She should focus on playing for D'tigress. She should not end up like the Ogwumike Sisters.

PDPGuy:

It depends on how convincing she and the NBBF will be in making their argument that it would be worthwhile for Kiki to miss the first two weeks of the WNBA season, for the chance to win a first international trophy…

...Kone was not playing, however, she was on a roster, i see Musa’s case being exactly like that, especially being her first year in the W. I am not expecting her to go and dominate almost immediately...its a learning curve.

Danielnino00:
I'm not sure Murjanatu is with the Mercury...
I hardly see her in any of the pictures and videos on their social media pages...

...she is on team, check their roster.

geonyte:
do u think she will commit too us with the way she is going I think US national team will steal her

Kiki is 100% playing for Nigeria should she decide to play FIBA basketball. You can take this to the bank.

Murjanatu Musa is in action right now for the Phoenix Mercury

D’Tigress will play against Kenya and Togo, in Abuja, between July 18-20. Both exhibition games would serve as preparatory games for the Women’s Afrobasket which dunks off on July 24…

I don't think kiki irifien will play for Nigeria,she is playing at an all-star level,US won't allow her play for us

Murjanatu Musa is having her best game as a pro. 6pts and 2 rebounds with a little left in the 3rd.

BascoVanVeli:
Murjanatu Musa is having her best game as a pro. 6pts and 2 rebounds with a little left in the 3rd.

...I am impressed...she is developing as a player..

[quote author=geonyte post=135641499]I don't think kiki irifien will play for Nigeria,she is playing at an all-star level,US won't allow her play for us[/quote

I share your thoughts too. She should have verbally committed to Nigeria and DTigress since last year. America has a way of blocking the chances of Nigerian Americans from playing for Nigeria. The NBBF should approach Iriafen directly and secure her commitment. She must not go the way of Arike and the Ogwumike Sisters.

[quote author=Redman44 post=135645746][/quote]please do u have any video to back of this claim of her commitment cause I'm scared

geonyte:
I don't think kiki irifien will play for Nigeria,she is playing at an all-star level,US won't allow her play for us

You guys should stop abeg. There's no chance Kiki is playing for the US. Literally none.

I can list 12 players off the top of my head that are ahead of her in the pecking order. Yes she having a great rookie season but playing for the US isn't something that will happen and she knows that.

Now, they may wickedly extend an invitation to her for one obscure America Cup just to cap her, (which again I don't think is likely). But even if that happens, she's wise enough not to take it cause she's not representing them at top competitions like the world cup or Olympics.

BascoVanVeli:
Murjanatu Musa is having her best game as a pro. 6pts and 2 rebounds with a little left in the 3rd.

Definitely had a good game. Hopefully that makes a case for more game time for her.

At this rate, it's unlikely that Musa will the team for the afrobasket...


Good for her though.... By the time the world cup comes around, we should have a more formidable team...
I really hope we get Kiki

Danielnino00:
At this rate, it's unlikely that Musa will the team for the afrobasket...


Good for her though.... By the time the world cup comes around, we should have a more formidable team...
I really hope we get Kiki

We should have a home based D'tigress squad that is made up of the best female basketball players in Nigeria . Murjanatu Musa was a home based player before she moved abroad. We have had a few breakout players like that who transitioned from our local league to America and Europe. Cheers.

The home based D'tigress should be formed and made to play the foreign based D'tigress twice a year. Cheers.

Redman44:


We should have a home based D'tigress squad that is made up of the best female basketball players in Nigeria . Murjanatu Musa was a home based player before she moved abroad. We have had a few breakout players like that who transitioned from our local league to America and Europe. Cheers.

The problem is that we don't have an active basketball league ...
How can we effectively pick the best home based players without a functioning league?
It's just ceremonial basketball competitions taking place here and there

Danielnino00:


The problem is that we don't have an active basketball league ...
How can we effectively pick the best home based players without a functioning league?
It's just ceremonial basketball competitions taking place here and there

I hope and pray something is done about this situation as soon as possible. However, a home based D'tigress squad can still be picked via these ceremonial competitions. We should have a home based D'tigress Squad. Cheers.