Murjanatu Musa Bio
Murjanatu Liman Musa is a Nigerian professional basketball player who plays for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball in France. Born on May 5, 2000, in Abuja, Nigeria, she has built a reputation as a versatile frontcourt player capable of contributing as both a center and a power forward. She is also a member of the Nigerian national team, known as the D’Tigress, and briefly joined the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA through a 2025 training camp contract.
Standing at 183 cm, Musa combines size with mobility, allowing her to operate effectively around the basket on both ends of the floor. Her professional journey has carried her from Nigeria to Spain and then to France, and she earned her first opportunity at the WNBA level in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Murjanatu Liman Musa was born on May 5, 2000, in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. Growing up in Abuja, she was introduced to basketball during her formative years and developed her game through local programs that helped shape her as a frontcourt prospect. Her early exposure to the sport came through structured youth play in Nigeria, where she built the physical base that would later define her style as a center and power forward.
Musa came of age in a Nigerian basketball community that was steadily gaining international attention, particularly through the growth of the women’s league and the rise of the D’Tigress on the continental stage. Her development in Abuja positioned her to make a smooth transition into competitive senior basketball once she became eligible.
Path to Basketball
Musa began her senior career in 2018 with Air Warriors, one of the competing teams in Nigerian women’s basketball. Her first major breakthrough came during the 2019 Zenith Women Basketball League, where she led her team to the championship and was voted the Most Valuable Player of the league after scoring 17 points with 15 rebounds and 3 assists in the final against Mountain of Fire Ministries.
That MVP performance confirmed her status as one of the top young frontcourt players in Nigeria and set the stage for a move abroad. In 2021, she signed with Celta Zorka in Spain, joining a competitive European league and continuing her development at the international level. Her progression from local Nigerian leagues to Spanish basketball reflected both her on-court production and her growing reputation within the broader women’s game.
Murjanatu Musa Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Murjanatu Liman Musa began her professional career in 2018 with Air Warriors in Nigeria. During her time with the club, she quickly became a central figure in the team’s frontcourt rotation. The defining moment of her early career came in the 2019 Zenith Women Basketball League, when Air Warriors defeated Mountain of Fire Ministries in the final and Musa was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
That MVP award placed her among the most recognizable young talents in Nigerian women’s basketball and established a foundation for her move to European competition.
Spanish Career with Celta Zorka (2021-2024)
In 2021, Murjanatu Liman Musa joined Celta Zorka in Spain, beginning her European professional career. She spent multiple seasons with the club and established herself as a reliable interior presence, contributing on both the offensive and defensive glass. During the 2022/23 season, she averaged 13.4 points, 13 rebounds, and a plus-22.7 efficiency rating, demonstrating her consistency as a double-double threat.
Her strong performance during that campaign led Celta Zorka to retain her for the 2023/24 season, signaling the trust the club placed in her production. Across her time in Spain, Musa developed a reputation as a hard-working post player who could anchor a defense and finish around the rim.
French Career with Tarbes Gespe Bigorre
Murjanatu Liman Musa currently plays for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball, the top professional women’s basketball league in France. Her move to France represented another step in a steadily ascending European career, allowing her to compete at one of the most respected women’s basketball leagues in the world.
While finishing her commitments in France during the 2025 spring, she remained under contract with her French club before pursuing her WNBA opportunity.
Phoenix Mercury Era (2025)
On March 5, 2025, Murjanatu Liman Musa signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Because she was still completing her season in France at the time, she missed the start of training camp but ultimately made the Mercury’s final roster, an impressive achievement for a player joining mid-cycle.
Her time with the Mercury came to an end on July 8, 2025, when she was waived by the team. Even so, the experience gave her a foothold at the WNBA level and exposed her to the highest level of women’s basketball competition.
Playing Style and Strengths
Murjanatu Liman Musa plays primarily as a center and power forward, using her 183 cm frame to compete in the paint on both ends of the floor. Her statistical profile highlights rebounding and interior scoring as her primary strengths, with averages such as 13.4 points and 13 rebounds during the 2022/23 Spanish season underscoring her consistency. She is comfortable operating with her back to the basket, finishing through contact, and contributing on the defensive glass, traits that have made her a productive frontcourt contributor at every stop in her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature milestones of Murjanatu Liman Musa’s career came in the 2019 Zenith Women Basketball League, where she was named MVP after leading Air Warriors to the title. On the international stage, she represented Nigeria in the 3×3 basketball tournament at the 2019 African Games in Morocco, where the team won gold, and at the 2019 African Beach Games in Cape Verde, where the team earned bronze. In 2025, she earned her first WNBA opportunity with the Phoenix Mercury, marking a significant milestone in her professional journey.
Murjanatu Musa National Team Career
Murjanatu Liman Musa has been a member of the Nigerian national team, known as the D’Tigress. She has represented Nigeria across multiple competitions, including 3×3 basketball events and FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
International Highlights
Musa represented Nigeria in the 3×3 basketball tournament at the 2019 African Games in Morocco, where the team won gold. She also played for Nigeria at the 2019 African Beach Games in Cape Verde, where the team secured a bronze medal. She was called up for the Tokyo 2020 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Belgrade, and later participated in the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, where she averaged 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.
Murjanatu Musa Career Highlights
Across her professional career, Murjanatu Liman Musa has accumulated a series of verified achievements at the club and international levels. Her trophy case includes a Zenith Women Basketball League championship with Air Warriors in 2019, an MVP award in the same league, a gold medal at the 2019 African Games 3×3 tournament, and a bronze medal at the 2019 African Beach Games 3×3 tournament.
Verified Achievements
- 2019 Zenith Women Basketball League Champion (Air Warriors)
- 2019 Zenith Women Basketball League MVP
- 2019 African Games 3×3 Gold Medal (Nigeria)
- 2019 African Beach Games 3×3 Bronze Medal (Nigeria)
Murjanatu Musa Personal Life
Personal Life
Murjanatu Liman Musa was born and raised in Abuja, Nigeria, where she began her basketball journey before moving abroad to pursue a professional career. Details of her family life and personal relationships are not publicly documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a milestone year for Murjanatu Liman Musa, as she signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA on March 5, 2025. Although she arrived late because she was still completing her season in France with Tarbes Gespe Bigorre, she made the Mercury’s final roster, an achievement that highlighted her standing within the organization.
Her WNBA stint ended on July 8, 2025, when she was waived by the Mercury. Throughout the year, she continued her commitments with Tarbes Gespe Bigorre in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball, maintaining her role as a key frontcourt contributor in France.
Looking ahead, Musa’s 2025 campaign reflects a player in transition between top European competition and the WNBA level, with continued opportunities to expand her international footprint.