Azure Anderson

Position: Forward

Height: 175cm

Born: June 30, 1997

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: Hamilton Girls HS

Previous NBL clubs – Waikato Wizards (2015), Harbour Breeze (2021)

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2022 Tertiary National Championships – scored 28 points in AUT’s Grand Final win against Victoria University.

Also named to the Tournament Team at the 2023 Tertiary 3×3 Championship where AUT finished runners-up to Lincoln University.

Won the 2012 National Secondary Schools title with Hamilton Girls HS. Won her second National title at U19 Nationals in 2015 playing for Waikato.

Attended Hamilton Girls High for 2 years and was also home schooled for a year and a half in France.

After high school returned to France for 4 years and played  for Perpignan Le Soler Métropole (2016-2018). Then played for Cugnaux for a season and a half (2018-2020).

Returned to New Zealand at the beginning of 2020 and is currently studying midwifery at AUT. 

Father Vinnie Anderson is a former Kiwi Rugby League international.

Penina Davidson

Position: Forward/Centre

Height: 191cm

Born: 9 February, 1995

Junior Association: Waitakere

High School: Rangitoto College

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns – debuted 2013 v Australia

Previous NBL clubs – Harbour Breeze (2012-13 and 2019)

Last played in New Zealand in 2019 when she was named to the All-Star 5 in the WBC after helping Harbour Breeze to the Grand Final.

Began her professional career playing for Adelaide Lightning in the Australian WNBL in 2018/19. She has since played four seasons for Melbourne Boomers winning a championship in 2022  – has re-signed for the 2023-24 season.

Davidson completed her four year scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley in 2018. She played a total of 130 games for the Golden Bears averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Started all 64 games for the Bears in her final two years.

Named to the All-Star 5 at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup in Sydney in July where New Zealand finished fourth and qualified for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year. Averaged a near double-double of 13.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game – she was the second leading rebounder at the tournament and sixth highest scorer.

Played all three games at 2019 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland where she was the leading rebounder at the tournament averaging 11.3 boards per game. In addition she averaged 16 points per game to finish 4^th in overall scoring.   

Bailey Flavell

Position: Guard

Height: 178cm

Born: February 15, 2007

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Takapuna Grammar School

Highest Representative Honour – 2023 New Zealand U16 Team

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Named co-captain, alongside Pahlyss Hokianga (Whai) of the New Zealand team that attend the 2023 FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Jordan in July.

Played for the New Zealand team that won silver at the 2022 FIBA U15 Oceania Championship – averaged 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2023 U19 National Championships where she averaged 22.2 points per game for North Hartbour.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2022 U15 National Championships. Scored 23 points for North Harbour in their Grand Final win against Waikato.

Before returning to New Zealand in early 2022 Flavell was a member of the Victoria State Development Programme in Melbourne.

Dad Judd Flavell is a former Tall Black.

Will play in Tauihi ’23 as an amateur to preserve her American collegiate eligibility.

Rebecca Moors

Position: Forward

Height: 188cm

Born: 13 April, 2006

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Westlake Girls High School

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U17 National Team Squad

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Moors was a member of the Westlake Girls High School team that won the 2022 Secondary Schools National Championship playing alongside sister Sarah.

Having impressed at the Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp in Abu Dhabi early in June Moors, along with Kavanah Lene (Pouākai), were amongst eight New Zealand athletes that were selected to attend the 2023 NBA Academy Men’s and Women’s Games in Atlanta, Georgia from July 6-9.

The NBA Academy Games features a series of games between four Select Teams comprised of top players from outside the United States under the guidance of NBA Academy coaches and showcase their skills and talents in front of NCAA coaches and WNBA/NBA team scouts.

Comes from a talented sporting family with mum Dionne Moors a high jumper who competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Older brother James graduated from Colorado State University in 2023 and is now playing NBL1 for Brisbane Capitals.

Sister Jess is a sophomore at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale.

Will play in Tauihi ’23 as an amateur to preserve her American collegiate eligibility.

Krystal Leger-Walker

Position: Guard

Height: 175cm

Born: September 29, 1997

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: St Peter’s School, Cambridge

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns (debuted 2014)

Previous NBL clubs – Waikato Wizards (2014-16, 2019 and 2021), Northern Kāhu (2022-present)

Played all 15 games for Northern Kāhu in the inaugural Tauihi Aotearoa averaging 8.9 points and 4.1 assists per game. Scored a season high 16 points in the semi-final win against Whai.

Followed that by winning the 2023 Australian WNBL championship with Townsville Fire.

Following an outstanding junior career with Waikato and St Peter’s School Leger-Walker headed to Northern Colorado University.

She went on to play 88 games in three seasons at Northern Colorado (2016-2019), helping guide the Bears to the Big Sky Tournament Conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.

Then transferred to Washington State University to link up with sister Charlisse. Received All-Pac 12 Honourable mention in both seasons.

Holds the record for most starts (139) in a collegiate career by a Kiwi – male or female. Finished her career with 142 appearances, 1,032 points and 621 assists.

Krystal first played for the Tall Ferns as a 16 year-old back in 2014.

Played all 6 games at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup in Sydney in July where New Zealand finished fourth and qualified for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.

Played all 5 games on the Tall Ferns tour of Europe in June 2023 averaging 6.4 points and 3.6 assists per game.

Mother Leanne attended the 1990 and 1994 Olympics with the Tall Ferns and sister Charlisse has also represented the Tall Ferns.

Ritorya Tamilo

Position: Centre

Height: 192cm

Born: 15 June, 2005

Junior Association: Auckland

High School: Baradene College

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns (debuted 2023 v Serbia)

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

A year 13 at Baradene College, Tamilo debuted for the Tall Ferns in June, 2023 against Serbia in Belgrade.

Played 5 games at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup in Sydney in July where New Zealand finished fourth and qualified for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.

Ritorya played on two international campaigns for New Zealand in 2022.

At the FIBA U16 Asian Championship she averaged 6.7 points and 6.7 rebounds as New Zealand finished fourth to qualify for the U17 World Cup.

At the U17 World Cup in Hungary she finished as the tournaments leading shot blocker averaging 3.1 blocks per game. The 192 cm centre was also the team’s leading rebounder claiming 7.9 boards per game to finish 14^th overall in that statistical category while also scoring 6.4 points per game.

Will play in Tauihi ’23 as an amateur to preserve her American collegiate eligibility.

Riana Rangi-Brown

Position: Guard

Height: 167cm

Born: February 3, 2000

Junior Association: Waitakere West

High School: Mt Albert Grammar School

Highest Representative Honour –

Previous NBL clubs – Auckland Dream (2020-21)

Named MVP at the 2023 D League Championship – scored 23 points in Auckland Dream’s 74-60 Grand Final win against Otago Gold Rush.

Played for New Zealand at the 2017 FIBA U17 Oceania Championships in Guam alongside Kāhu teammate Keeley Tini. Also in 2017 was named to the Tournament Team at the U19 National Championships playing for Waitakere West.

Following high school played a year at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas and a further year at Mineral Area College in Missouri.

Akiene-Tera Reed

Position: Wing

Height: 184cm

Born: September 24, 1998

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Westlake Girls HS / Life Center Academy, Burlington, New Jersey

Highest Representative Honour: Tall Ferns – debut 2018

Previous NBL clubs – Harbour Breeze (2012-13 and 2019-21), Kāhu (2022-present)

Played the 2022-23 European season in Finland averaging 20.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for Pyrinto.

Scored 48 points (10/16FG, 7/10 3PG, 7/7FT) for Pyrinto in a 96-82 win against FOA in February. Though no records exist it is thought to be the highest individual score by a Kiwi in a women’s professional game.

Played 10 games for the Kāhu in 2022 averaging 10.4 points and a team high 6.3 rebounds. Shot 40% (10/25) from beyond the 3-point arc.

Played all 6 games at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup in Sydney in July where New Zealand finished fourth and qualified for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year – scored 23 points against the Philippines.

Played 4 games on the Tall Ferns tour of Europe in June 2023 – scored an international best 24 points in the win against Poland.

A veteran of 135 NCAA Division I games the Tall Ferns wing is fifth on the all-time list of games played by a Kiwi woman in Division I hoops. She also amassed 1,624 points, just 24 points shy of eclipsing Erin Rooney’s all-time record of 1,647 points.

Following high school Reed accepted a 4-year scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

As a freshman, she led the VCU scoring averaging 13.8 points per game resulting in her being named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie team. She led the VCU scoring three seasons running, the rangy wing a key player as VCU won an Atlantic 10 Championship, and with it a berth at the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21.

Reed played her fifth and final college season at the University of Southern California Trojans under former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb.

For the Trojans she averaged the most minutes on court (30), the most assists (3.2 per game), the fourth most points (158) and the highest 3-point shooting percentage at 40%.

Won a WBC championship with Harbour Breeze in 2014.

Ilmar'I Thomas (Import)

Position: Forward

Height: 178cm

Born: 23 October, 2000

High School: Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, Oakland, California

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

In her first overseas professional assignment Thomas played for Torpan Pojat Helsinki, runners-up in the Finish League in 2022-23. She was named Finnish League MVP after she averaged a League best 26.8ppg. Scored a season best 44 points and exceeded 30 points on 10 occasions in 35 appearances. Also averaged 8.2 points per game.

Played 154 NCAA Division 1 games – 4 years at the University of Cincinnati and an additional year at UCLA.

Averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Bruins (2021-22).

In the Pac-12 in 2021-22 Thomas was 1st in offensive rebounds (2.8pg), 3^rd in field goal percentage (55.4%) and 5^th in minutes played (33.5).

Named American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in her final year at Cincinnati (2020-21). She finished at Cincinnati as the only player in school history to achieve more than 1,900 career points and 800 career rebounds.

She is the only women’s player and just the second in the University of Cincinnati history, besides the legendary Oscar Robertson (who completed the feat six times), to score 50 or more points in a game. She scored 51 points against East Carolina University in February 2021.

Fluent in American Sign Language.

Jaycin Tini

Position: Forward

Height: 178cm

Born: 10 March, 1995

Junior Association: Harbour

High School: Rangitoto College

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U17 Team (2011)

Previous NBL clubs – Harbour Breeze (2012-15), Northern Kāhu (2022-present)

Played for the Kāhu in 2022 but due to some injury issues played just five games.

A member of the Harbour Breeze team that won the WBC title in 2014 – in a good omen for the Kāhu that was the last occasion she was coached by her mum.

Played two years at Miles Community College in Montana followed by two years at the College of Idaho (NAIA). Played 53 games for the Coyotes averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds per game – graduated in 2017.

Signed to play for Gold Coast Rollers for the 2020 Queensland Basketball League (QBL) but Covid forced the cancellation of the League.

Played for the 2011 NZ U17 Team alongside Stella Beck and Penina Davidson.

The eldest daughter of Kāhu head coach Jody Cameron. Sister Keeley Tini is on a basketball scholarship at Auburn University at Montgomery (NCAA Division II) 

Keeley Tini

Position: Forward

Height: 180cm

Born: March 2, 2000

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Westlake Girls HS

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U17 (2017)

Previous NBL clubs – Harbour Breeze (2017-21)

Tini played the 2022-23 collegiate season at Auburn University at Montgomery (NCAA Division II). Previously played one year at Hutchinson Community College and two years at Williston State College.

A member of the Harbour Breeze 2020 Sal’s NBL Championship winning team, Tini averaged 8 points per game.

Averaged 9.6ppg at the 2017 FIBA Oceania U17 Championship in Guam where the NZ team won silver. Played alongside Kāhu teammate Riana Rangi-Brown.

The youngest daughter of Kāhu head coach Jody Cameron and sister of Jaycin Tini.

Elianna Tuaiti

Position: Guard

Height: 173cm

Born: 15 May, 2000

Junior Associations: Auckland and Waitakere West

High School: Auckland Grammar School

Highest Representative Honour – Cook Islands National Team

Previous NBL clubs – Auckland Dream (2019)

Played for the Cook Islands team that claimed gold at the FIBA 2022 Polynesian Basketball Cup played in Kaitaia.

Earlier in 2022 Tuaiti was a key member of the Auckland Dream team that won the Women’s D League Tournament.

Played senior basketball in all five years at Auckland Grammar School winning the Auckland Premiership on three occasions. Named to the Tournament Team at the 2016 Secondary Schools National Championships where Auckland Girls Grammar placed 3^rd.

Tahlia Tupaea

Position: Guard

Height: 170cm

Born: 1 June, 1997

High School: Westfield Sports High School/St Mary’s Senior High School, Sydney

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns (debut 2023)

Previous NBL clubs – Northern Kāhu (2022-present)

Tupaea averaged 18.2 points (4^th overall), 4.3 assists (3^rd overall) and 2.8 steals (1^st overall) in 2022 – named MVP of the inaugural Tauihi Aotearoa.

Played for Penrith Panthers, her junior club, in NBL1 in early 2023.

Penrith born, with Tainui-Ngāti Tipa descent, Tupaea was the 36^th pick by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2017 WNBA draft.

Played 5 games at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup in Sydney in July where New Zealand finished fourth and qualified for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year. Averaged 7.8ppg – scored 20 points against Lebanon.

She became the second youngest debutant in the history of the Australian Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) when she took the court for the Sydney University Flames in 2012 at 15 years and 133 days. Two years later she was a key member of the Flames WNBL championship winning team.

Has played 140 WNBL games, most recently for 2022 semi-finalists Canberra Capitals where she averaged 6.9ppg – shot the 3-ball at 40.5%.

Ashleigh Udesike (nee Kelman-Poto)

Position: Forward

Height: 185cm

Born: 30 December, 1991

Junior Association: Auckland

High School: Mt Albert Grammar School

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns (debut v Serbia, June 2023).

Previous NBL clubs – Harbour Breeze (2012-13 and 2019-21), Northern Kāhu (2022-present)

Due to pregnancy (with her second child) Kelman-Poto’s 2022 Tauihi season was limited to 5 appearances – scored  a season best 13 points against Southern Hoiho.

Since then Ash has got married, given birth to her second child and six month later fulfilled a career ambition to play for the Tall Ferns.

Not only did Ash play all 5 games on the Tall Ferns tour of Europe in June 2023 but baby Nauvoo was also in attendance. Mum Julie was also a member of the touring party to provide care for Nauvoo when Ash was on court training or playing. 

A member of the Harbour Breeze 2020 Sal’s NBL Championship winning team. Named Grand Final MVP after an 18 points, 14 rebounds and 6 steals haul in the final against Waikato Wizards. Also named to the All-Star Five.

Attended North Idaho Junior College (2011-12) followed by two years at East Central University (NCAA Division II).

Older sister of Southland Sharks player Dom Kelman-Poto.

Played the 2021 season with Brisbane club Red City Roar in Australian NBL1 League.

Previously played three seasons with Gladstone Port in the Queensland Basketball League.

Jody Cameron (Head Coach)

Leanne Walker (Assistant Coach)

Halsey Ward (Assistant Coach)