2023 SEASON STARTING SOON

WHAI'S 2024 TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON RUNS FROM 4 OCTOBER TO 22 DECEMBER • FOLLOW ON SOCIALS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND ROSTER RELEASE UPDATES• WHAI'S 2024 TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON RUNS FROM 4 OCTOBER TO 22 DECEMBER • FOLLOW ON SOCIALS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND ROSTER RELEASE UPDATES• WHAI'S 2024 TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON RUNS FROM 4 OCTOBER TO 22 DECEMBER • FOLLOW ON SOCIALS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND ROSTER RELEASE UPDATES• WHAI'S 2024 TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON RUNS FROM 4 OCTOBER TO 22 DECEMBER • FOLLOW ON SOCIALS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND ROSTER RELEASE UPDATES• WHAI'S 2024 TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON RUNS FROM 4 OCTOBER TO 22 DECEMBER • FOLLOW ON SOCIALS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND ROSTER RELEASE UPDATES•

About Whai Basketball

Whai
1. (noun) stingray
2. (verb) to chase, persue, look for, aim at.

Whai is a Te Reo Māori word meaning Stingray. In Māori mythology, the Whai is kaitiaki (community guardians), protecting the areas where shellfish – the successful bounty – can be harvested. The Whai are a feature of the Tauranga moana (sea). Whai is also a verb in Te Reo Māori, meaning “to chase, pursue, or aim for.”

We are chasing, pursuing a vibrant and socially connected Tauranga City where young people have their horizon of possibility lifted.

We do this through our home games and community programmes.

We were deeply honored to have been gifted this name following extensive consultation and collaboration with Mana Whenua in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Rotorua, including kaumatua (elders) from Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Raukawa ki Waikato, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti Whakaue / Te Arawa and Ngāti Pikiao.

Our name represents our community connections and social purpose, and our partnership with Mana Whenua across the region.

Whai HQ is in Birch Avenue, Tauranga connecting us with our local Hapu Ngati Tamarawaho. The Kopurererua stream which runs close by was used as a training ground by young Māori seeking to catch kia. Keeping with the history of the area, Whai HQ is used today to help inspire, train and equipment young people for service in the community and prepare them for meaningful work.

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About Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa

History was made in 2022 with the G.J. Gardner Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa League inaugural season. The league is made up of five regional teams, the Northern Kāhu, Whai Basketball, Tokomanawa Queens, Mainland Pouākai and Southern Hoiho.  

All games are broadcast live on SKY Sport. Showcasing SKY Sport Tall Ferns, international stars and rising young Kiwis – Professional women’s basketball is here to stay.

 Tauihi means “to soar” in Te Reo Māori.

The Whai Women's team finished 3rd in the competition in 2023.

In both of the first two seasons the Whai had the defensive player of the year on the team. In 2022 the award was won by Nikki Greene, while this year Mikayla Cowling won the prestigious award.

Teenage sensation Pahlyss Hokianga won Youth Player of the Year as well as Rapid League MVP.

In total 6 Whai players who took the court in 2023 are still in high school, showing the great pathway Whai provides for local up and coming players. 

About Sal's NBL

The National Basketball League (NBL) has been at the forefront of men's basketball in New Zealand since its inception in 1982.

The league has served as a stepping stone for players like Kirk Penney, Steven Adams, and Torrey Craig, who went on to play in the NBA and other prominent leagues worldwide.

In the upcoming 2024 season, the Whai will proudly join the Sal's NBL, bringing the total number of teams in the league to 11.

All of its games will be broadcast on SKY Sport, providing fans across New Zealand with unparalleled access to the action. Furthermore, the league's reach extends far beyond national borders, with international audiences tuning in to watch games on ESPN, solidifying the NBL's position as a premier basketball competition with a truly global footprint.

The Whai Men's team will play all 2024 home games at Mercury Baypark. 

Whai Basketball is deeply committed to community engagement through in-school visits, holiday camps and our Whai Academy, ensuring that basketball thrives at the grassroots level. The links below will allow you to navigate to our community programmes website.

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School Holiday Camps

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Trusted Partners



Our trusted partners share our commitment to basketball and making Tauranga a vibrant and socially connected city.

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Get in touch

Office Phone 0800 433 221

Fan Text +64 270 4517 732006

Email hello@whai.basketball

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