Stella Beck (#7)

Position: Guard

Height: 183cm

Born: 25 July, 1995

Junior Association: Hutt Valley

High School: Hutt Valley High School

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns – debuted 2018.

Previous NBL clubs – Hutt Valley Flyers (2012-14), Capital Swish (2021), Tokomanawa Queens (2022-present)

A member of the Queens team that won the Inaugural Tauihi championship in 2022. Unfortunately missed the 2023 Grand Final due to illness – played 8 games in the ’23 season averaging 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4 assists.

Captained the Tall Ferns at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in China – averaged 10 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Played a captain’s knock in the agonising 69-67 loss to Puerto Rico amassing 21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.

Beck enjoyed a standout career at St Mary’s College, California where in 2018 she was named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team for the second time in her career after leading the Gaels in scoring, steals and free-throw shooting in her final collegiate season.

She was also named to the WCC All-Academic First Team for the third time in her career. Beck finished her career 10th on the all-time scoring list at Saint Mary’s with 1,439 career points, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience.

Post college Beck played four seasons in the Australian WNBL – two seasons with Townsville Fire then a further two seasons with Melbourne Boomers (2019-20).

Grace Hunter (#4)

Position: Guard

Height: 178cm

Born: 4 July, 2000

Junior Association: Porirua

High School: St Mary’s College, Wellington

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

Previous NBL clubs – Wellington Swish (2017 and 2019), Tokomanawa Queens (2022-present)

A member of the Queens team that won the Inaugural Tauihi championship in 2022. Has played 26 games for the Queens – scored a Tauihi best 13 points against Northern Kāhu in September 2023.

Played both games for the Tall Ferns Select against Japan in Tokyo in July 2024.

Played all 5 games on the Tall Ferns tour of Europe in June 2023 – scored 10 points on debut against Serbia in Belgrade. Played 4 games at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup in Sydney in July where New Zealand finished fourth.

Following high school played 2 years at Junior College and then the 2021-22 season at Florida International University and the 2022-23 season at CSU Bakersfield (both NCAA Division I).

Scored 221 points at 7.6 ppg for Bakersfield last season and, playing as an amateur this season, will return to the Roadrunners after Tauihi 2023.

Played on the St Mary’s College team that won the 2018 Secondary Schools National Championship – named to the Tournament Team.

Jacinta Beckley (#3)

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: July 30, 1995

Junior Association: Kapiti Coast

High School: Paraparaumu College

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Ferns – debuted 2015.

Previous NBL clubs – Hutt Valley Flyers (2012-14), Capital Swish (2021), Mainland Pouākai (2023), Queens (2022 and 2024)

A Tauihi championship winner with Tokomanawa Queens in 2022. Played 12 games averaging 8.1ppg and shooting the three-ball at 39.5% (15/38).

Played 3 games for the Pouākai in 2023.

Most recently played 5 games for Casey Cavaliers in NBL1 South in 2023.

Following high school enjoyed a 4-year career at University of Seattle (NCAA Division I) playing 94 games for the Redhawks. In her senior year was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference Second Team after averaging 12.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Began her professional career playing for BEAC Ujbuda in Hungary followed by 2 seasons with Sunbury (2019 and 2021).

Played 10 games for the Tall Ferns following her debut in 2015 and was on the gold medal winning team at the 2018 William Jones Cup.

Louise Brown (#21)

Position: Centre

Height: 190cm

Born: July 23, 1995 in Adelaide

High School: 

Highest Representative Honour – Australian U19 Team

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

The Australian is the third former University of Tennessee player to join the Queens this season. Averaged 4.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in her senior year in 2019-20.

Also played 4 years at Washington State University prior to Tennessee.

Most recently played for Frankston Blues in NBL1 East in 2024 – averaged 14 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.

Has played three seasons in the Australian WNBL winning a championship on two occasions – with Melbourne Boomers (2021-22) and Southside Flyers  (2023-24).

Played on the Australian bronze medal winning team at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship in Lithuania.

Florencia Chagas (#14)

Position: Guard

Height: 180cm

Born: June 27, 2001

High School: 

Highest Representative Honour – Argentinian National Team

Previous NBL clubs – Queens (2022)

Played all 14 games for the Queens in 2022 averaging 16.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Named Grand Final MVP after recording 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists against Northern Kāhu.

A 3rd Round WNBA Draft Pick by Indiana Fever in 2021.

Since playing in NZ in 2022 has played in Spain, Italy,  France and most recently Argentina.

Debuted in the Italian League as a 15-year old in 2016. 

Played for Italian champions Schio in 2019-20, alongside Tall Fern Jillian Harmon.

Played on the Argentine National Team as recently as August ‘24 at the FIBA World Cup Pre Qualifying Tournament in Rwanda.

Tallied 8 points, 7 steals, 6 rebounds and 6 assists against New Zealand at the 2018 U17 World Cup in Belarus. 

Lauryn Hippolite (#2)

Position: Guard

Height: 183cm

Born: March 5, 2000

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Waimea College/Middleton Grange School.

Highest Representative Honour: Tall Ferns – debuted 2021 v Japan at FIBA Asia Cup in Jordan.

Previous NBL clubs – Nelson Sparks (2015-16), Canterbury Wildcats (2019-21), Mainland Pouākai (2022-23)

Played all 25 of Mainland Pouakai’s games in 2022-23. 

Scored a Tauihi best 19 points against Northern Kāhu in July 2023.

Played all three games for the Tall Ferns at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Played for the 3×3 Tall Ferns at both the 2023 and 2024 3×3 FIBA Asia Cup in Singapore in – the team claimed a silver medal on both occasions.

Was a member of the 3×3 Tall Ferns team that defeated Australia to win the inaugural 3×3 Trans-Tasman Cup in Invercargill in 2023.

Hippolite was a Development Player with the Australian NBL Championship winning Melbourne Boomers in 2022.

Won the 2022 and 2023 3×3 Tertiary National Championship with Lincoln University.

Played NCAA Division II basketball at Hawaii Pacific University in 2018-19.

Jordan Horston (#23)

Position: Forward

Height: 188cm

Born: 21 May, 2001 in Texas

High School: Columbus Africentric High School in Ohio

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

The No 9 pick by Seattle Storm in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Played 36 games, with 17 starts and averaged 6.9 points per game in the 2023 season.

Played 4 years at the University of Tennessee at the same time as Queens teammate Tamari Key. In her senior year (2022-23) averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Is only the second player at Tennessee to finish a career recording 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists.

Helped Tennessee make three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Played for the Gold medal winning USA team at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup in Belarus. In the Gold medal game against France Horstrom put together a stunning stats line of 12 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals.

Tamari Key (#20)

Position: Centre

Height: 198cm

Born: July 11, 2001 in Raleigh, North Carolina

High School: Dan Olson College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Tamari Key joins the Queens for her rookie professional season after a five year career at the University of Tennessee.

At Tennessee finished with 1,040 career points in 131 contests with 107 starts. Set a programme record with 347 career blocked shots recording 11 against Texas A&M in January 2022.

Helped Tennessee make three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Served on the Student-Athlete Leadership Council from 2022-2024.

Mother Tammy Brown played volleyball and father Marcus Key played basketball – both at Coastal Carolina University. Sister Teonni Key played basketball at North Carolina.

Awatea Leach (#5)

Position: Guard

Height: 175cm

Born: March 14, 1999

Junior Association: Rotorua

High School: Rotorua Girls High School

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U17 (2015)

Previous NBL clubs – Rotorua Lady Vols (2015-18), Northern Kāhu (2023)

Played 11 games for Northern Kāhu in 2023 averaging 4.5ppg – scored a Tauihi best 18 points against Pouākai.

Played for Albury Wodonga Bandits, the 2024 NBL1 East regular season champions. Played all 22 games averaging 10 points and 3 assists per game. Played alongside FIBA Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson at Albury Wodonga.

Following high school Leach studied design at Massey University before playing a year at Collin Community College in Texas (2019-20). 

Named Gladstone Port City Power Player of the Game after they were pipped 80-77 by Southern District Spartans in the 2023 Queensland State League Grand Final.

Aunt Aroha Haumaha (née Jennings) is a former Tall Fern.

Alana Paewai (#8)

Position: Guard

Height: 170cm

Born: April 4, 2004

Junior Association: Waikato

High School: St Peter’s School, Cambridge

Previous NBL clubs – Waikato Wizards (2020)

Played for the 2022 Waikato U19 National Championship winning team.

Won an U17 National Championship title with Waikato in both 2019 and 2020 – Named to the Tournament Team on both occasions. Averaged 21.4ppg at the 2020 Tournament.

Was a member of the St Peter’s championship winning team at the 2019 Secondary Schools National Championships.

Named to the New Zealand team to contest the 2020 FIBA U16 Asia Championships in Canberra but the event was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

Jihyun Park (#1)

Position: Forward

Height: 183cm

Born: April 7, 2000 in South Korea

High School: Soongeui Girls School

Previous Tauihi clubs – Rookie

Most recently played the 2024 NBL1 East season with Bankstown Bruins – averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

Prior to her NBL1 season Park had spent all her career playing for WooriBank Wibee club in Korea.

Park has had an extensive career with Korean National teams:

2016 FIBA U17 World Cup in Spain – averaged 16.5ppg.

2017 FIBA U19 World Cup in Italy – averaged 15.1ppg.

2018 FIBA World Championship in Spain.

2021 Olympics in Kapan – averaged 8.3ppg

2022 FIBA World Championship in Australia – averaged 12.8ppg

2023 FIBA Asia Cup in Australia – averaged 14.0ppg

Ashley Taia (#13)

Position: Guard

Height: 182cm

Born: November 22, 1994

High School – John Paul College, Brisbane

Highest Representative Honour: Tall Ferns

Previous Tauihi clubs – Pouākai (2023)

Played 3 games for Mainland Pouākai in 2023 – averaged 5 points per game.

Has played the last six years for Logan Thunder in NBL1 North.

In 2021 won the inaugural NBL1 North championship with the Thunder playing alongside Chevannah Paalvast. 

Taia played all five games for the Tall Ferns at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, making a three with her first shot in international basketball against Korea.

At high school won three Australian National School Championships at John Paul College – two with Kalani Purcell.

Following high school Taia attended Odessa Community College before embarking on a three-year NCAA Division I career at Indiana State University.

On return to Australia she played WNBL for Canberra Capitals and Adelaide Lightning.

Played for Wetterbygden Sparks in Sweden in the 2021-22 European season.

Keriana Hippolite (#0)