New Zealand basketball star Charlisse Leger-Walker is returning home to compete in the 2026 G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season after signing with the ANZCO Foods Tokomanawa Queens.
Leger-Walker returns to New Zealand after an outstanding period in the United States, where she established herself as one of the country’s leading basketball talents through her collegiate and WNBA career.
Her arrival is a major boost for Tauihi, giving fans around New Zealand the opportunity to watch one of the nation’s highest-profile players compete on home soil throughout the 2026 season.
The move will also see Charlisse line up alongside sister Krystal Leger-Walker at the Queens, adding another compelling storyline to a competition featuring leading New Zealand and international talent.
Basketball New Zealand CEO Belinda Edwards says Leger-Walker’s signing is a significant moment for G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.
“Having Charlisse playing in Tauihi is hugely exciting for the competition and for basketball fans around New Zealand,” Edwards says.
“She has competed at the highest levels of the game, and now our fans will have the opportunity to watch her here at home.
“Charlisse’s return also speaks to what Tauihi continues to build — a competition where elite New Zealand players can compete at a high level against stars from around the world, connect with fans and inspire the next generation of girls coming through the game.”
The 2026 G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season tips off on Friday 25 September, with the Queens opening their campaign against the BNZ Northern Kāhu at Te Rauparaha Arena on Sunday 27 September.
Leger-Walker’s return gives fans across the country another reason to get behind the competition, with the Queens set to travel throughout the regular season and take on some of the best talent in New Zealand women’s basketball.
Every Tauihi fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sport, with more exciting broadcast news for the 2026 season to be shared soon, with fans also able to follow the competition across Tauihi and team social channels throughout the season.
