Nigeria, April 25 -- Nigeria's women's basketball story has always been built on defiance. Now, it steps into unfamiliar territory, and higher stakes.

On Saturday night in San Diego, Nigeria women's national basketball team will take on Los Angeles Sparks in the opening game of a three-match United States tour, a fixture that is as symbolic as it is strategic.

Scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Nigerian time at Viejas Arena, the contest marks a historic first: Nigeria become the first African national team to face a WNBA franchise, and only the fourth international side ever to do so.

The occasion stretches beyond preparation.

For the Sparks, it is a return to San Diego for the first time since May 2010, when they defeated the Chinese women's na...