photo credit: PhotoWellington/Masanori Udagawa
The Champs Are Flexing
It's been a red-hot start to a title defense by the BNZ Northern Kāhu so far with three good wins to get their 2024 season underway - taking down the Hoiho (by 11pts), Whai (by 12pts) and Queens (by 3pts). Based on what we have seen so far, if teams can't find a way to limit one of Tahlia Tupaea, Penina Davidson or IImar'I Thomas then the title will be the Kāhu's to lose. While guards Krystal Leger-Walker and Chloe Forster play very important roles, there is little doubt the Kāhu's big three are the key to this team - Tupaea, Thomas and Davidson are already combining for 56% of the Kahu's points and display a familiarity that makes it look like they have been playing basketball together for years.
Snoozing Hurting The Hoiho
The Southern Hoiho sit 0-3 after the first two weeks of the season, but signs are there to suggest this is a team capable of bigger things in season 2024. The Hoiho led by as many as 17 points on Saturday against the Pouākai, this after spending time in front of both the Queens and Kāhu the previous round, but right now they don't seem capable of stopping a momentum swing. The guard rotation looks good with Paige Bradley, Ahlise Hurst and Chelsea D'Angelo, but the Hoiho might need to ask Nat Chou to play a bit more as a forward in the paint to complement Zoe Richards and Samantha Bowman. The Hoiho will catch some teams out when it all clicks, however right now they need to find a way to re-group quickly when the opposition gets on a run.
The Jordon Horston Effect
The Queens set a new Tauihi attendance record on Sunday and there is little doubt the hype around WNBA star Jordan Horston played a big part. For her part, Horston scored 23 points on a tough shooting day (6/22) and was clearly feeling the effect of international travel, battling through leg cramps. While Horston's performance showed patches of the elite talent that has already led her to 77 WNBA games with the Seattle Storm, you couldn't miss her impact off the court when she was swamped by fans seeking photos and autographs after the final buzzer. The Horston effect is real and it was great to see.
Tahlia Tupaea Is The Ultimate Competitor
Right, let's put this on the table - Tahlia Tupaea is the one player that opposition teams in Tauihi simply do not like, but she is also the one player those same teams would love to have playing on their side! The sheer competitiveness and physicality that she plays with gets under the skin of opponents while leaving opposing coaches looking for answers. She is the one player who causes more headaches than any other and is the one player coaches fear the most. The 2022 MVP and recent Tall Fern is fit and healthy, her shoulder problems look to be behind her, and she's ready to own season 2024. In week 2 Tupaea tangled with Laina Snyder and Florencia Chagas, and she angered many others with her relentless banging of bodies and a thirst for the contest. At times she can play like a human wrecking ball, which equally excites and angers the crowd, helping to deliver both emotion and excitement - the perfect ingredients in a competition unashamedly billing itself as the most entertaining women's sport in New Zealand. Keep bringing the fire Tahlia - love it or hate it, there is no doubt it gets us going!!
Rapid League Results Are Impactful
If you haven't noticed, there has been a tweak to the way results in Sky Broadband Rapid League games impact on the Tauihi ladder this season. In 2023 a Rapid League win would result in 1 point being added to a team's Tauihi match points, but this year it is all about points scored and points conceded - with Rapid League scores being added to each team's Tauihi points for and against. While it is early days and all teams have a long way to go, there are already some worrying signs for the Queens - two heavy Rapid League losses by a combined -32 points has already pushed their Tauihi team down to a points percentage of just 86.3% - the lowest in the Tauihi competition. It's a situation that could come back to bite them when the battle for finals, and home court advantage in particular, plays out in early December.
When The Underdog Tag Is Welcomed
There is something to be said for feeling like an underdog in sport and you get the feeling the ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai could be the team this season that is happy to swim beneath the surface. While all the hype and headlines right now are being soaked up by the Kāhu, Whai and Queens, coach Paul Flynn and the Pouākai are happily keeping their heads down. The effort by the Pouākai to erase a 17-point deficit and take down the Hoiho on Saturday night should not be brushed over. In particular, the Pouākai's starting unit is high class and features WNBA drafted shooting guard McKenzie Forbes. This is a team to keep a close eye on - this week's home clash with the unbeaten Kāhu is going to tell us a fair bit about the Pouākai's chances this season - don't be surprised if the underdogs bite the big dogs this week.
Flying Under The Radar
Mark down the name Chloe Forster ... and remember it. The young Australian (out of Perth, WA) is arguably the most underrated player in Tauihi right now, which to be fair it is kind of easy to be in the shadows when you are in a team with Tahlia Tupaea, Penina Davidson and Iimar'I Thomas. However, Forster's three games thus far are more than worthy of receiving some added attention. Averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game, plus an impressive 21 of 24 from the Chemist Warehouse stripe, Forster is starting to transform the Kāhu 'Big Three' into a 'Fab Four'. Even more impressive is her relentless defensive pressure and love for the contest, her ability to win the 50/50 ball might be the best in the competition. So, here's the warning shot - do NOT underestimate Chloe Forster, she should not be flying under anyone's radar.
Queens Mastering Rated E
The Queens set a new Tauihi record attendance on Sunday afternoon against the Kāhu, and it's likely to be a number (1700) they smash though once or twice more this season. Despite the narrow loss, the Queens remain completely focused on the business of entertainment and the fans are lapping it up. Fan activations, giveaways, a drag queen mascot (Queen T is awesome!), merchandise flying off the shelf, colourful signs made by fans everywhere in the crowd, and meeting the players immediately after the game are working wonders. Entertaining, Energy, Excitement, Epic ... the Queens are leading the way with Rated E!
Chemist Warehouse Perfection
The Pouākai laid down a Chemist Warehouse challenge to all others with a perfect 24 from 24 from the coloured stripe in their game against the Hoiho. It was a night of blissful Chemist Warehouse shopping for the Pouākai in what is believed to be a League record. Let's see if any team can break the new marker.
