photo credit: Masanori Udagawa
Two seasons, two grand finals, one championship. Across the short journey no team has won more games in Tauihi than the BNZ Northern Kāhu.
In short, the Kāhu are winners. Whether clinching a title in their second championship appearance in the 2nd year of G.J. Gardner Tauihi Aotearoa or making waves in the professional sporting landscape by forming one of the first sports teams solely owned, coached and managed by women (read more at newsroom here) they have won on and off the court.
As they prepare for season ’24 the recruiting of Kāhu head coach Jody Cameron has again been on point. There is a very familiar feel to this team with returning championship winning players including Krystal Leger-Walker, Penina Davidson, Tahlia Tupaea, Azure Anderson, Bailey Flavell, Eliana Tuaiti and star American import Iimar’I Thomas.
Only the Southern Hoiho has retained as many players from 2023 to 2024.
The Kāhu plan is clearly to go with what has worked previously, and it's a plan with merit. The only major blip from '23 to '24 is the loss of Tera Reed, who has elected to stay in Australia. These are big shoes to fill.
Arguably, the biggest change for the Kāhu has come off the court where a new ownership group has moved in to help raise the bar and take the franchise to the next level. It's an exciting advancement that will see Tauihi rise even further.
Back to the player recruiting. Some astute additions include 185-centimetre American forward Megan Mullings and three Australians under the new FIBA Asia player rule – forward Steph Bairstow and guards Chloe Forster and Lily Rotunno.
At just 20 years of age, Queenslander Rotunno is the youngest import in Tauihi this season.
And then of course there is Thomas, the power-packed star American forward who returns after smashing so many records in 2023.
Read more about Iimar'I Thomas, the Kāhu's unlikely hero.
Thomas is the key to the Kāhu's chances in 2024, coupled with what everyone hopes is an injury-free run for Tahlia Tupaea.
Given Thomas and Tupaea spent such little time on the court together last season, the prospect of the two scoring powerhouses playing big minutes together this time around is exciting.
Incoming Kiwis for the Kāhu include Tall Ferns Chevannah Paalvast and Mary Goulding, while a trio of amateurs – Tannika Leger-Walker, Kodee Williams-Sefo and Amy Pateman – look set to enjoy ample opportunity in the Sky Broadband Rapid League.
Goulding's journey back to basketball has been well documented. Fans up and down the country will love seeing her back on court.
The talent and depth of the Kāhu is unquestionable, but how coach Cameron goes about selecting her starting line-up will be fascinating given she has elected to go with two Americans and three FIBA Asia players, which is a different set-up to the other four Tauhi teams who have gone with a three/two split.
A key change to Rapid League this season is imports cannot play, except for an allowance to suit-up two FIBA Asia players. Remember, the Kāhu has three of the latter, so decisions will need to be made.
Depending on how the Kāhu elect to start in Tauihi, it could be that one of (Krystal) Leger-Walker, Penina Davidson or Tahlia Tupaea comes off the bench (and plays Rapid). Either that, or the Kāhu will play six players in Rapid League and sit one of their FIBA Asia players.
Either way, the strength of this Kāhu roster presents headaches that are nice to have.
Can the 2024 champions go back-to-back? There is little doubt they will take another star-studded roster into the season, which might be enough to have them starting as favourites.
2024 Kāhu Home Games
Sunday Oct 6 – 2:00pm Rapid / 3:00pm Tauihi – Kāhu vs Hoiho – Eventfinda Stadium (Auckland)
Friday Oct 25 – 6:30pm Rapid / 7:30pm Tauihi – Kāhu vs Pouākai – Eventfinda Stadium (Auckland)
Thursday Oct 31 – 6:30pm Rapid / 7:30pm Tauihi – Kāhu vs Whai – Eventfinda Stadium (Auckland)
Saturday Nov 9 – 6:30pm Rapid / 7:30pm Tauihi – Kāhu vs Pouākai – Eventfinda Stadium (Auckland)
Thursday Nov 14 – 6:30pm Rapid / 7:30pm Tauihi – Kāhu vs Queens – Eventfinda Stadium (Auckland)
Sunday Dec 8 – 2:00pm Rapid / 3:00pm Tauihi – Kāhu vs Queens – Whangarei
Kāhu Tickets & Memberships
Tickets: TICKETS | Northern Kāhu (kahu.basketball)
Memberships: MEMBERSHIPS | Northern Kāhu (kahu.basketball)
2024 Kāhu Roster
0. Kodee Williams-Sefo (NZ - amateur)
1. Tannika Leger-Walker (NZ - amateur)
2. Lily Rotunno (Australia - FIBA Asia import)
3. Bailey Flavell (NZ - amateur)
4. Tahlia Tupaea (NZ – professional)
5. Megan Mullings (USA - import)
6. Krystal Leger-Walker (NZ – professional)
7. Steph Bairstow (Australia – FIBA Asia import)
10. Amy Pateman (NZ - amateur)
11. Chloe Forster (Australia – FIBA Asia import)
12. Penina Davidson (NZ – professional)
20. Chevannah Paalvast (NZ – professional)
23. Iimar’I Thomas (USA – import)
27. Azure Anderson (NZ – professional)
30. Elianna Tuaiti (NZ – professional)
56. Mary Goulding (NZ – professional)
Predicted Starting 5
PG: Krystal Leger-Walker
SG: Tahlia Tupaea
SF: Megan Mullings
PF: Iimar’I Thomas
C: Penina Davidson
All-Time Stats Leaders
Total Games Played: Krystal Leger-Walker (27)
Total Points: Iimar’I Thomas (371)
Total Rebounds: Tera Reed (164)
Total Assists: Krystal Leger-Walker (59)
Total Steals: Krystal Leger-Walker (143)
Total Blocks: Penina Davidson (12)
Single Game Records
Points: Tess Madgen (37)
Rebounds: Penina Davidson (20)
Assists: Krystal Leger-Walker (13)
Steals: Tahlia Tupaea (7)
