The G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi is back and we cannot wait to see the athletes on the court chasing the 2025 title. But what will be driving the clubs this season? Is your team trying to stay on top of the championship peak, climb back to the pinnacle, or make its first run at postseason glory? Read on to find the storylines that we think will define the early season.
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai claimed their inaugural championship on their home court as they stormed down the stretch of the season under Alex Stojkovic. After guiding the Whai to that title he has decided to move a bit further south, taking on a new challenge with the Pouākai. That leaves the reins to Tane Bennett, who has been with the Whai since their inception, first at the academy level before his passion for the game led to assistant roles in Tauihi and the NBL. Moving up from Rapid League will be a jump, but with his background in sports performance analysis he is well prepared for the opportunity. The Whai believe he has what it takes to keep them swimming along, but the question remains whether he can guide the team to the heights of last season.
Alex Stojkovic’s move down south was not the only change. Finals MVP Morgan Yaeger, along with teammates McKenna Dale and Emma Rogers, also chose to swap Ocean Beach for New Brighton Beach, following their title-winning coach. The Pouākai hope these recruits will blend with their local core and lead to a first-ever championship game appearance after last season’s semi-final run. Will this transfer of talent spark a new rivalry? We will have to wait and see.
Three seasons, three title game appearances, and one championship. That is the record of the ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens. As they push for a fourth consecutive title game (and a second championship) the Queens have opted to retool while retaining the bulk of their roster. Head coach Tania Tupu returns alongside captain Stella Beck and restricted players Lou Brown and Jihyun Park. They are joined by new imports Rebecca Cole, Riley Lupfer, and Kristy Wallace, along with locals Penina Davidson and Pahlyss Hokianga. The Queens have set the standard on and off the court since the league’s inception, but they will need to be at their best if they want to be playing for the championship on December 14.
The BNZ Kāhu enter 2025 without a few mainstays who defined their early seasons, as Krystal Leger-Walker, Penina Davidson, and IImar’I Thomas will not be in uniform. Head coach Jody Cameron is back and aiming to return to the title game after missing the final for the first time in franchise history. The Kāhu feature a full contingent of restricted players, including Haliegh Reinoehl who starred for the Pouākai last season, along with a revamped local core that keeps some stability with the announcement that Tahlia Tupaea will return for her fourth consecutive season. Will the combination of fresh faces and a few familiar ones lift the Kāhu back to the heights of their first two seasons, or will they fall back into the pack and continue their search for a first title?
With their ownership group still in flux, the Southern Hoiho appeared to be leaving roster construction late in the game. But a flurry of recent signing announcements proved they were working frantically behind the scenes to build a team capable of returning to the postseason. With Zoe Richards and Paige Bradley forming the foundation of the returners, head coach Todd Marshall will be hoping that familiarity helps the Southerners get off to a fast start this season.
