Tauranga Whai

Last updated

Tauranga Whai
Whai Basketball logo.png
League NZNBL
FoundedDecember 2021
HistoryTauranga Whai
2024–present
Arena Mercury Baypark
Location Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Team coloursTurquoise & navy blue
General managerJohn Miller (spokesperson)
Head coachMatt Lacey
OwnershipBay of Plenty Basketball Foundation
Championships0
Website Whai.basketball

The Tauranga Whai are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. The Whai compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Mercury Baypark.

Contents

Team history

In December 2021, the Bay of Plenty Basketball Foundation were granted a license to enter a men's team into the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2024 season. The team was initially named the Bay of Plenty Stingrays. [1] [2] The team was rebranded as Whai in the lead up to their first season and then later officially branded Tauranga Whai. [3] [4] [5] [6] The word whai as a noun means stingray in Māori. [7] As a verb, whai means to chase or pursue. [8]

In October 2023, Whai Basketball announced Matt Lacey as their inaugural men's coach. [9] [10] In their NBL debut on 28 March 2024, the Whai defeated the Hawke's Bay Hawks 91–70 at Mercury Baypark. [11] The Whai finished their first season in eighth place with an 8–12 record. [12] [13]

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Tauranga Whai (NZNBL) roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 0 Flag of the United States.svg Holland, Demarcus  (I)1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Boucher, Jayden 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Thompson, Jett 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
G 5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Perrott-Hunt, Kruz 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
G 6 Flag of New Zealand.svg Roudon, Harlan
G 7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Greensill, Maioro 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
F 8 Flag of New Zealand.svg McBirney-Griffin, Akiva 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
G 9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Marsters, Xanda 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F/C 10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brooke, Denhym 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
C 11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Stephens, Maxim   Cruz Roja.svg 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
G 13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Lewis, Te Tuhi 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 21 Flag of New Zealand.svg Anderson, Zion 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 22 Flag of the United States.svg Carr, Phillip  (I)2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
F 27 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hopoi, Carter 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)
F 41 Flag of New Zealand.svg Dunstan, Adam 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
G 59 Flag of New Zealand.svg Van Der Leden, Te Maire
G 66 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bezzant, Jayden  (C)1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G Flag of New Zealand.svg Flavell, C. J. 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F Flag of New Zealand.svg Hayward, Nick 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
G Flag of New Zealand.svg Heke, Mahnaya 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
G Flag of New Zealand.svg Rogers, Murphy 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Head coach
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Matt Lacey
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Tane Bennett
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Doug Courtney
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: 13 June 2024

Women's team

Whai Basketball debuted in 2022 with a women's team, Mid-North Whai, in the inaugural season of the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa. [14] [15] In 2024, the team became known as Tauranga Whai alongside their male counterpart. [16] As of 2024, the team plays their home games at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre. [17] [18] [19] The Whai won the 2024 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship. [20] [21]

Women's roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Tauranga Whai (Tauihi) roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G/F 3 Flag of the United States.svg Cowling, Mikayla 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hokianga, Pahlyss 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
SG 5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Smiler, Kaylee 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
C 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg McSpadden, Lara 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
SF 7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Langton, Eva 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rogers, Emma 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
G 9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Dale, McKenna 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hyland, Anika 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
G 11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kirisome, Jade 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
PF 14 Flag of the United States.svg Synder, Laina 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 16 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kuka, Laura 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 18 Flag of New Zealand.svg Taingahue, Maya 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
F 20 Flag of the United States.svg Joens, Ashley 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 24 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Yaeger, Morgan 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 44 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dale, McKenna 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
F 99 Flag of New Zealand.svg Daysh, Maka 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Head coach
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Alex Stojkovic
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Tane Bennett
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: 13 September 2024

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References

  1. ↑ "SAL'S NBL NAMES BAY OF PLENTY STINGRAYS AS FIRST EXPANSION TEAM FOR 2024". nznbl.basketball. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Hinton, Marc (23 December 2021). "Bay of Plenty Stingrays unveiled as Kiwi NBL expansion team for 2024". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "WHAI VS. TUATARA: AUCKLAND WIN BIG IN TAURANGA". nznbl.basketball. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "AIRS VS. WHAI: TARANAKI SMASH WHAI IN HOME OPENER". nznbl.basketball. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "TAURANGA VS SOUTHLAND: WHAI STING SHARKS". nznbl.basketball. 21 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  6. ↑ "TAURANGA VS TARANAKI: AIRS PULL AWAY IN SECOND HALF". nznbl.basketball. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "About Whai Basketball". whai.basketball. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "whai". Te Ara Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "WHAI NAME MATT LACEY HEAD COACH FOR INAUGURAL SEASON". nznbl.basketball. 20 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Conchie, Sandra (21 October 2023). "Tauranga-based Whai men's basketball team set to join NBL, Matt Lacey revealed as head coach". The New Zealand Herald . Bay of Plenty Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "WHAI VS. HAWKS: WHAI ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES WITH DREAM DEBUT". nznbl.basketball. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Ladder". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
  13. ↑ "THINK TANK: REGULAR SEASON WRAP". nznbl.basketball. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
  14. ↑ Houpt, Emma (10 May 2022). "New professional women's basketball team set to inspire young Tauranga players". The New Zealand Herald . Bay of Plenty Times. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA SEASON PREVIEW". tauihi.basketball. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "2024 G.J. GARDNER HOMES TAUIHI SCHEDULE UNVEILED". tauihi.basketball. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Tauihi 2023 Schedule" (PDF). tauihi.basketball. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2023.
  18. ↑ Conchie, Sandra (8 August 2023). "Basketball: Tauranga women's team Whai Basketball inspires new players and fans". The New Zealand Herald . Bay of Plenty Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "2024 Tauihi Schedule". tauihi.basketball. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Whai Claim Championship Victory". tauihi.basketball. 22 December 2024. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024.
  21. ↑ "Tauranga Whai storm to Tauihi basketball crown". RNZ. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
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