The side will feature in a double header alongside the Otago Nuggets at the Edgar Centre on Saturday night.
It will play the Southern Stormers — a southern region invitational team — as part of its build-up to the women’s National Basketball League, which begins in August.
The match will precede the Otago Nuggets’ NBL match against the Southland Sharks and will be the Gold Rush’s first match in Dunedin since 2019.
Last year’s NBL was played exclusively in Auckland following the impacts of Covid-19, a format that will used again this year at a yet to be confirmed location.
Basketball Otago general manager Peter Drew said last year’s league had been great for raising the profile of women’s basketball.
However, the down side was no home games.
That was a gap BBO was looking to fill, with an eye to the league returning to a home and away format next year.
"What we’re trying to do is build up the profile of women’s basketball in New Zealand in general, but we’re also trying to build a Gold Rush fan base locally,’’ Drew said.
"It really helps if we can put them out in front of a home crowd.
"But we also will hopefully be having home games again next year and maybe the potential to host finals, possibly — that’s all to be determined.
"So we’re looking towards building up a fan base for next year and beyond that.’’
The Gold Rush was yet to confirm its playing roster for Saturday.
Drew said it would contain the likes of Olivia O’Neill, Bronwyn Kjestrup, Savanna Handevidt and Tara Clement from last year’s team.
Star forward Zoe Richards is playing Australia, while NBL youth player of the year Te Araroa Sopoaga has been picked up by a college in the United States.
Meanwhile, veteran forward Lisa Wallbutton will turn out for the Stormers.
She is one of three former Tall Ferns on the Stormers roster, alongside Nicole Ruske and Tracey Kelly.
It is a side that also includes several promising school players, as well as players from Central Otago and Southland.
Drew said BBO wanted to help develop a pathway for women’s players throughout the entire region.
It was hoped the Gold Rush would play a return match against the Stormers on July 9, although that was yet to be confirmed.
The match will tip-off at 5pm and will be followed by the Nuggets match against the Sharks at 7.30pm.
