Northern Kahu
Last season: Champions.
Regular season: 9-3.
The oil: Tera Reed is the glaring name missing, the Tall Fern instead playing the Southside Flyers in Melbourne. But the Kahu have the luxury of a core group returning in Tahlia Tupaea, Krystal Leger-Walker and Penina Davidson. Import and final MVP Iimar’I Thomas is also back. Tall Fern Mary Goudling, who signed for the Southern Hoiho last year before being ruled out through a car accident, also joins the Kahu. Look to have a good import mix in Megan Mullings (US) and Chloe Forster, Stephanie Bairstow and Lilly Rotunno (Australia).
Jordan Horston (right) grabs a rebound while playing for the Seattle Storm against the Los Angeles Sparks in a WNBA game in Seattle last month. Horston is coming to the Tauihi league to play for the Tokomanawa Queens.
Tokomanawa Queens
Last season: Runners-up.
Regular season: 6-6.
The oil: Seattle Storm guard Jordan Horston is one of the leading names for the well-recruited Queens team. The United States junior representative was a first round pick in the 2023 WNBA draft. The University of Tennessee player joins fellow alumni Tamari Key and Australian Lou Brown at the Queens. Argentinian international Florencia Chagas returns after a season away and South Korean international Jihyun Park rounds out an intriguing import roster. The Queens retain Stella Beck, while Lauryn Hippolite and Ashley Taia join from the Pouakai, and Awatea Leach from the Kahu.
Whai
Last season: Third.
Regular season: 6-6.
The oil: Laina Snyder has signed with the Whai. Snyder, who played for the Hoiho in 2022, was a standout and the American was the league’s top scorer and was named in the inaugural all star five. She joins Australians Lara McSpadden, who plays for the Sydney Flames in the WNBL, and Morgan Yaeger, who has plenty of WNBL and NBL1 experience. They join American Mikayla Cowling, who returns to the Whai after a brilliant 2023. Maka Daysh and McKenna Dale are also back and rising Kiwi Kaylee Smiler has also signed after finishing her college career at Brigham Young University.
Southern Hoiho
Last season: Fourth.
Regular season: 7-5.
The oil: After a strong 2023 season, the Southern Hoiho will be hoping that translates to this campaign. Dunedin stalwarts Zoe Richards and Samara Gallaher return to the fold and imports Ahlise Hurst (Australia) and Paige Bradley (United States) are back. They were valuable additions last year with Hurst’s three-point shooting and Bradley’s calm demeanor, and Bradley was named in the league’s all-star five. League MVP Ashten Prechtel has not returned, but there are some handy imports among the roster. Americans Natalie Chou and Samantha Bowman add depth and Chelsea D’Angelo, who represented Australia at the Junior World Cup in 2019, looks strong. Southern Steel shooter Aliyah Dunn is another good addition. Caitlin O’Connell and Tyler Mitchell return.
Mainland Pouakai
Last season: Fifth.
Regular season: 2-10.
The oil: The Pouakai will be hoping to get more from their roster this season. Esra McGoldrick was immense in 2023, as was Tall Ferns team-mate Sharne Robati. Canadian international Cassandra Brown played 123 games for the University of Portland and recently played with fellow Pouakai American Haliegh Reinoehl at Mount Gambier in the NBL1 South in Australia. American guard McKenzie Forbes was picked by the Los Angeles in the 2024 WNBA draft and also played in the NBL1 South for the Waverley Falcons. Her father, Sterling jun, and grandfather, Sterling, played for the Harlem Globetrotters. Mikhaela Cann adds experience with 85 WNBL games.
