Australian stars shine in 2025 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season
New Zealand's basketball league has come to a close for another summer, with Australians displaying their excellence and returning home with multiple pieces of silverware.
Photo credit: Mike Hill (@pickandroll.nz)
Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, New Zealand’s women’s basketball league, has concluded another season. In just its fourth season, the competition was stronger than ever, attracting more local and international talent than years past. The Australian cohort playing across the pond had a depth of WNBL starters.
Kristy Wallace was dominant across the board, taking home league MVP honours. She and Marena Whittle led the league in points per game at 19.6, with Wally also third in assists per game at 6.6. Wallace was sixth in steals per game, with the top five including two of her teammates, as her Tokomanawa Queens led the league with 8.9. She was also one of the league’s most efficient players, seventh in field goal percentage, third in free throw percentage and second in three point percentage, at a blistering 42.9%.
When you’re doing things like this, it’s only right you’re anointed MVP.
The Queens fell to the eventual champions, Tauranga Whai, in the semi-finals 82-76. Wally was stellar with 16 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals alongside fellow Aussies Lou Brown and Brooke Basham. The Whai had other ideas, with hometown hero Emme Shearer and American import Mikayla Cowling combining for 12-16 shooting from three, while Hannah Hank added a double-double.
Hank spoke with The Pick and Roll on her overall experience in Tauihi. “I’d be a positive advocate for the New Zealand League. The way they run the program is really professional. Even how they’re going about media and the broadcasting of games. I think just growing the popularity of the sport, there is picking up a lot of momentum. So, yeah, I’ve had a really great experience. Honestly, one of the favourites of my pro career so far, especially with the Whai, awesome club. So, yeah, I think it’s just really good competitive basketball.”
