Basketball fans will have even more ways to watch the G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa this season, with Friday night games to be shown live on ThreeNow throughout the 2026 campaign.
Following on from the announcement that all games in the 2027 season will be available on ThreeNow, Tauihi action will be even easier to follow as the new weekly window gives fans another free-to-access way to follow the country’s premier women’s basketball competition, while every game of the 2026 season will continue to be broadcast live on Sky Sport.
Sunday games will also be livestreamed on the Sky Sport TikTok page, further expanding the ways fans can follow Tauihi throughout the season.
Friday Night Tauihi on ThreeNow begins with Opening Night on Friday 25 September, when the defending champion Tauranga Whai host the Northern Kāhu at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre in Tauranga.
Coverage begins at 6.30pm ahead of the 7.30pm tip-off, with Taylah Johnson and Casey Frank behind the microphones for the season opener.
Basketball New Zealand CEO Belinda Edwards said the expanded viewing options were an important part of continuing to grow the reach of Tauihi.
“Increasing the visibility and accessibility of Tauihi is a major priority for us.
“The addition of ThreeNow alongside our partnership with Sky Sport gives more New Zealanders the opportunity to experience the excitement and quality of women's basketball.
“We're seeing growing interest in Tauihi each season, and expanding our reach across free-to-access, broadcast and digital platforms is an important step in continuing that momentum.
“The quality of basketball continues to rise, and we're looking forward to showcasing our athletes and teams to more fans than ever before.”
The expanded broadcast offering will be matched with a strong commentary lineup, bringing together experienced broadcasters with former and current players.
Taylah Johnson and Casey Frank will again form one of Tauihi’s leading commentary combinations, with Johnson joined among the lead callers by Glen Larmer, Nathan Limm, Nick Bewley, Maia Williamson and James Lissaman.
The returning expert commentary group features Lindsay Tait, Frank, Tom Ingham and Adam Morgan, with former players Tera Reed and Jaycin Tini joining the team for 2026.
“It’s exciting to see the basketball commentary roster continuing to evolve and grow." says Rob Douglas, Sky's Producer of Major Events & General Sport. The addition this season of former and current Tauihi players brings an invaluable depth of knowledge and understanding to the broadcasts. Their first-hand experience of the league, its players and the game itself add another level of insight and authenticity for viewers.”
Reed brings extensive experience at international and professional level. The former Tall Fern and Northern Kāhu player was named Basketball New Zealand Female Player of the Year for her performances in 2023, a season in which she helped the Kāhu claim the Tauihi championship in dominant fashion, before playing in the WNBL in Australia a season ago.
Tini also brings championship experience to the broadcast team as a member of the Northern Kāhu's title-winning side.
There will also be a unique player-commentator crossover with Kayla Manuirirangi joining the lead-calling team.
Manuirirangi played over 100 NCAA Division I games for Tulane University, captained the Junior Tall Ferns and was part of Sky Sport’s commentary team during the 2026 Sal’s NBL season. But she'll need to carve out space for her time on the mic as she will also be featuring on the court as a player for Northern Kāhu this season making her Tauihi debut.
Sky Producer of Major Events & General Sport Rob Douglas said the continued development of the commentary team would add to the broadcast experience for fans.
“It’s exciting to see the basketball commentary roster continuing to evolve and grow. The addition this season of former and current Tauihi players brings an invaluable depth of knowledge and understanding to the broadcasts.
“Their first-hand experience of the league, its players and the game itself add another level of insight and authenticity for viewers.”
The full commentary roster will rotate across games throughout the season, with Johnson and Frank combining regularly across the campaign. They will be behind the microphones for Opening Night when Tauranga Whai host Northern Kāhu on Friday 25 September.
Every game: Live on Sky Sport in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube Globally
Friday games: Also live on ThreeNow
Sunday games: One game every Sunday will also be livestreamed on the Sky Sport TikTok page
The regular season features 30 games across 10 rounds, beginning on Friday 25 September and concluding on Sunday 29 November.
The Semi-Finals will be played on Saturday 5 December and Sunday 6 December, before the Grand Final takes place on the home court of the highest remaining seed on Sunday 13 December.
Friday 25 September – 7.30pm
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai v BNZ Northern Kāhu
QEYC, Tauranga
Saturday 26 September – 7.30pm
ProcureX Mainland Pouākai v Southern Hoiho
Parakiore, Christchurch
Sunday 27 September – 3.00pm
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens v BNZ Northern Kāhu
Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua
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