Mikayla Cowling (#3)

Position: Guard

Height: 188cm

Born: 4 October, 1996 in Walnut Creek, California

High School: St Mary’s College, Benicia, California

Previous Tauihi clubs – Tauranga Whai (2023)

Played all 14 games for the Whai in 2023. Along with an All-Star Five Selection Cowling was named Defensive Player of the Year – averaged 23.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2 steals per game.

The 33rd pick by Connecticut Sun in the 2018 WNBA Draft, Cowling has since played in France, Greece, Turkey and Israel.

In the 2023-24 European season playing for Gdynia in the Polish League where she averaged 10 points per game. Subsequently played for Fuerza Regia in the Mexican League.

Cowling played in New Zealand when the University of California Berkeley played against New Zealand Select team in 2017. Cowling enjoyed a standout career for the Golden Bears playing 130 games with 123 starts.

 She ended her Cal career tied fourth in programme history with 470 assists to accompany 1,274 career points. She is one of only four players in programme history with over 1,000 points and 400 assists.

McKenna Dale (#44)

Position: Forward

Height: 183cm

Born: 16 June, 1999

High School: Edwin O Smith High School, Connecticut

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns, debuted in 2024 v Puerto Rico

Previous NBL clubs – Whai (2023)

Averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in 14 appearances for Whai in 2023 – scored a career high 33 points against Northern Kāhu. Made 47 from 122 three-point attempts at 38.5%.

Played for Bendigo Spirit in the 2023-24 Australian WNBL season.

Scored 9 points for the Tall Ferns on debut against Puerto Rico at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in China. in just 12 minutes before succumbing to an ankle injury.

Averaged 7.7ppg for the Tall Ferns at 2024 FIBA World Cup Pre Qualifying Tournament in Mexico in August.

Dale played two years in the Ivy League at Brown University before transferring to Virginia University for a further two years.

In her senior year (2022-23) she played all 30 games for the Cavaliers averaging 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds. Finished her NCAA Division I career with 677 points in 102 appearances. Named to the All- Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Team in 2023.

Dale was also an outstanding swimmer at high school winning a number of state titles.

Father Darren Dale competed for New Zealand in the 400m at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

.

Makayla "Maka" Daysh (#99)

Position: Forward

Height: 185cm

Born: October 10, 1995

Junior Association: Tauranga City

High School: Tauranga Girls College

Previous NBL clubs – Rotorua Vols (2012-13) Tauranga City Coasters (2015-18), Waikato Wizards (2014 and 2020-21), Whai (2022-present)

Playing in her home town ‘Maka’ played 5 games for Whai in 2023 and has made 10 appearances in total.

Played all 17 games for Ipswich Force in 2024 in NBL1 North – averaged 4.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Played 2 years at Chadron State University, Nebraska (NCAA Division II) from 2014 to 2016 and has since represented New Zealand Maori.

Daysh played rugby for the Bay of Plenty in 2016 and 2017 and is currently a Sports teacher at Tauranga Intermediate School.

Pahlyss Hokianga (#4)

Position: Guard

Height: 166cm

Born: 9 October, 2007

Junior Association: Hawkes Bay

High School: Tauranga Girls College

Highest Representative Honour – New Zealand U17 team (2024)

Previous NBL clubs – Whai (2023 – present)

As a 15 year-old produced 2 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks against Tokomanawa Queens on her Whai debut in 2023 – played 12 games in total scoring a season high 10 points against Northern Kāhu.

Hokianga became the second youngest Tall Fern to play international basketball (16 years, 122 days) when debuting against China at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in February 2024. (The youngest Tall Fern debutant is Jess McCormack (15 years, 307 days).

Played for the Tall Ferns at 2024 FIBA World Cup Pre Qualifying Tournament in Mexico in August averaging 3.3 points and 3.7 assists per game.

Averaged 6.7 points and 3.6 assists for the New Zealand team at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Mexico.

Averaged 12.6 points and a team high 4.4 assists per gamel for the New Zealand team that won bronze at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Jordan. 

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2023 Secondary Schools National Championship playing for Tauranga College.

Won a silver medal with the New Zealand team at the 2022 FIBA U15 Oceania Championships in Guam – averaged 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Won the 2023 3×3 Secondary Schools National Championship with Tauranga Girls College playing alongside Honey Cooney and Anika Hyland.

Jade Kirisome (#11)

Position: Guard

Height: 172cm

Born: 15 January, 2000

High School: Brisbane State High School

Previous NBL clubs – Tauranga Whai (2023-present)

Played all 14 games for the Whai in 2023 – averaged 7.7 points and 2.3 assists per game.

Following the 2023 Tauihi season played 14 games for Canberra Capitals in the 2023-24 Australian WNBL.

In the 2024 NBL1 North season played for Logan Thunder (where she also played her junior basketball) and averaged 14.8ppg

Played 109 games during her 4 years of NCAA Division I basketball. Spent her freshman year at North Carolina State University followed by three years at St Mary’s. Played all 31 games for the Gaels in her senior year (2022-23).

Kirisome was raised in Queensland but has New Zealand parentage. Won two Queensland Secondary Schools Championships with Brisbane State High School.

Brother Tane Kirisome played for the Tall Blacks in the one-off test against Australia in Cairns in 2021.

Anika Hyland (#10)

Position: Guard

Height: 172cm

Born: 31 December, 2005

Junior Association: Tauranga City

High School: Tauranga Girls College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Played for the Tauranga representative team that finished runners-up at the 2024 U20 National Championships – averaged 16.8ppg. Scored 19 points in the Grand Final against Canterbury.

A member of the Tauranga City Coasters team that finished runners-up to Harbour Breeze in the inaugural 2024 Tupu League.

Won the 2023 3×3 Secondary Schools National Championship with Tauranga Girls College playing alongside Honey Cooney and Pahlyss Hokianga. Anika was also a member of the team that finished runners-up in 2024.

Ashley Joens (#20)

Position: Forward

Height: 183cm

Born: 16 March, 2000 in Iowa City, USA

High School: Iowa City High School

Previous Tauihi clubs – Rookie

One of only in 16 players in NCAA history to score over 3,000 points.

Played 158 games in her 5 year career at Iowa State University and started in all 158. She is the all-time leading scorer at ISU with 3,060 points at 19.4ppg.

Also #1 at ISU in field goals made (988), made 3-pointers (344), made free-throws (740), career rebounds (1,391).

Following her outstanding career at Iowa State was the 19th pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces. Played 2 games for the Aces, 9 for the Dallas Wings and 8 games for Phoenix Mercury. 

Played for Dinamo Sassari in the Italian League in 2023-24 – averaged 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in the EuroCup.

Played for the Gold Medal winning USA team at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Laura Kuka (#16)

Position: Guard

Height: 175cm

Born: 9 July, 1993

Junior Association: Tauranga City

High School: 

Previous NBL clubs – Tauranga City Coasters

Played through the Tauranga City age-group teams.

Played for Tauranga City Coasters team that were runners-up to Harbour Breeze in the inaugural 2024 Tupu League.

Eva Langton (#7)

Position: Wing

Height: 187cm

Born: March 17, 1999

Junior Association: Opunake

High School: St Mary’s Diocesan School, Stratford

Previous NBL clubs – Taranaki Thunder (2016-19), Queens (2022-23)

Played for the Queens in 2023 and was also a member of their championship winning team in 2022. Played a total of 13 games in the two seasons.

Played both games for the Tall Ferns Select against Japan in Tokyo in July 2024.

Following high school played two years at Western Nebraska Junior College before moving on to Texas A&M International (NCAA Division II) for three years.

Started 25 of 26 games in her senior season (2021-22) averaging 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Langton graduated from Texas A&M in 2022 having majored in Kinesiology.

Lara McSpadden (#6)

Position: Centre

Height: 193cm

Born: 2 April 1999 in Penrith, NSW

High School: 

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Played alongside Morgan Yaeger for Rockhampton Cyclones in 2024 NBL1 North averaging 17 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

McSpadden is a two-time Australian WNBL champion having most recently, in 2023-24, played for Sydney Flames coached by Guy Molloy. Won championships with Townsville Fire (playing alongside Krystal Leger-Walker) in 2023 and Sydney in 2017.

Played on the Australian Gold Medal winning team at the 2016 FIBA U17 Championships in Hungary and on the Australian Gold Medal winning team at the 2019 World University Games in Italy.

Emma Rogers (#8)

Position: Guard

Height: 177cm

Born: November 8, 2007

Junior Association: Tauranga City

High School: Aquinas College

Previous NBL clubs – Whai (2023-present)

The leading scorer and MVP at the 2024 U18 National Championships. Scored 52 in the quarter-finals, 38 in the semis and 47 in Tauranga’s 92-84 Grand Final loss to Waikato.

A member of the Tauranga City Coasters team that finished runners-up to Harbour Breeze in the 2024 Tupu League.

Played on the New Zealand team at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup in Hungary in August.

A member of the New Zealand team that claimed a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship.

Sophie Rogers (#9)

Position: Guard

Height: 165cm

Born: February 15, 2006

Junior Association: Tauranga City

High School: Aquinas College

Previous NBL clubs – Whai (2023-present)

A member of the Tauranga City Coasters team that finished runners-up to Harbour Breeze in the 2024 Tupu League.

Kaylee Smiler (#5)

Position: Wing

Height: 173

Born: October 22, 1999

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: Melville High School

Highest Representative Honour – 2024 New Zealand Select

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Enjoyed a 5 year playing career at Brigham Young University (BYU) where she made 137 appearances for the Cougars – only Tegan Graham (153), Kendall Heremaia (145) and Krystal Leger Walker (142), amongst Kiwi women, have played more NCAA Division I games.

In her senior year (2023-24) started in 32 games averaging 7.2 points and 3.7 assists per game. Shot a heady 46% (42/91) 3-point percentage. Her 42.8% career 3-point shooting places her 3rd all-time at BYU.

Her rookie professional season was in the 2024 NBL 1 season playing for Willeton Tigers – averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 assists per game.

Named to the Tall Ferns 18-player squad ahead of the FIBA Pre World Cup Qualifuong Tournament in August.

Studying for a PhD in Biology. Sister Kendall Smiler played at BYU Hawaii.

Laina Snyder (#14)

Position: Forward

Height: 185cm

Born: 14 October, 1995 in Millersburg, Ohio

High School: West Holmes HS,  Ohio

Previous NBL clubs – Hoiho (2022)

Had an outstanding career with Hoiho in 2022 averaging 20.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Was the highest scoring player in Tauihi ‘22 and was named to the All Star Five.

Enjoyed a remarkable four year career at Ashland University (NCAA Division II) in Ohio. 

Snyder finished her career as the Eagles all-time leading scorer amassing 2,295 points in 138 games. In addition she holds the all-time record for rebounds (1,207) and steals (372).

In addition to playing in New Zealand she has played professionaly in Australia, Germany, Greece and  Luxembourg.

Maya Taingahue (#18)

Position: Guard

Height: 172cm

Born: 6 January, 2004

Junior Association: Waitakere West Auckland

High School: Massey High School, Auckland

Previous NBL clubs – Auckland Dream (2021)

Played for New Zealand at the 2022 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup in Hungary.

In Year 13 at Massey High School in 2021 earned an academic scholarship to Waikato University to study Law.

Morgan Yaeger (#24)

Position: Guard

Height: 175cm

Born: 18 April 1998 in Adelaide

High School: St John’s Grammar School, Adelaide

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Played alongside Lara McSpadden for Rockhampton Cyclones in 2024 NBL1 North averaging 16.4 points and 4.4 assists per game.

Played for Adelaide Lightning in the Australian WNBL both before college (2016) and after college (2020). Has since played for Sydney University Flames (2021-22) and Townsville Fire (2022-23). Made a total of 44 WNBL appearances.

Played 76 games during her 3 years at the University of Oregon Ducks. In her Junior Year (2018-19) the Ducks won the Pac 12 title and reached the Final Four at the NCAA Championships.

Played for Australia at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship in the Czech Republic.