Tokomanawa Queens
Coach: Tania Tupu.
Key player: Stella Beck.
The defending champions have retained a good core of last year’s squad and are hard to look past again this year. Tall Fern Stella Beck brings a wealth of experience, showing her dominance behind the three-point line last season and ranking fourth in steals. Import Maya Dodson was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and played the 2022-23 European season in Poland, and Stephanie Watts was drafted by the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. Parris Mason, who debuted for the Tall Ferns this year, and Paris Lokotui spent the start of the year playing professional netball for the Central Pulse and Mainland Tactix.
Northern Kāhu
Coach: Jody Cameron.
Key player: Tahlia Tupaea.
Packed with some really strong experience blended with rising young stars this season. Tahlia Tupaea, last season’s MVP, is back for her second season and brings international experience, debuting for
the Tall Ferns this year. Fellow Tall Fern Krystal Leger-Walker can also take a game into her hands and returns on a high as well, having won the Australian WNBL championship with Townsville Fire this year. Young Bailey Flavell (16) is one to watch.
Whai
Coach: Mel Bennett.
Key player: Aaliyah Wilson.
Recruited well with some interesting imports for the season. American guard Mikayla Cowling was drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA in 2018 and has played in France, Greece, Turkey and Israel since. Austrian Sarah Sagerer played college basketball in the United States and professionally in Spain, Poland and Italy. She represented Austria at various 3x3 events, including the 2021 Olympic qualifiers. American Aaliyah Wilson played 14 games for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA and played most recently in Belgium.
Mainland Pouākai
Coach: Tully Bevilaqua.
Key player: Kennedy Leonard.
An interesting mix of youth and experience among the other South Island team — plus some classy imports. Import Kennedy Leonard brings international experience, playing for Scotland at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and Great Britain at the European Championship last year. Fellow import Natasha Mack joins fresh from winning the Polish League and played for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. Esra McGoldrick, Sharne Robati, Rosalia Samia and Kendell Heremaia join Pouākai from Whai.
Southern Hoiho
Coach: Todd Marshall.
Key player: Ashten Prechtel.
The Hoiho are looking to improve on last season under new coach Todd Marshall. American import Ashten Prechtel will be a big post player for the team, and was drafted into the WNBA earlier this year. Fellow imports Ahlise Hurst and Paige Bradley also bring a varied pedigree with them. Former Tall Fern Samara Gallaher will lead the team and brings a bunch of experience, Jen O’Connell joins after a professional netball career and Zoe Richards could be more of a weapon at the hoop after a season in Luxembourg.
