The defending champs have reloaded, but will a different look squad lead to the same results?
The defending champs have seen changes on the court and on the sideline as they've said Ka Kite to their head coach and 4 out of 5 starters, including All Star 5 member Ashley Joens and Grand Final MVP Morgan Yaeger. But the '25 season sees Tauranga arrive with two‑way size, a seasoned backcourt, and a youth pipeline that has the ability to change the tempo game to game. A season ago they stumbled out of the blocks before firing down the stretch of the season (not coincidently the run correspond with a fully healthy squad) With Head Coach Tane Bennett stepping up and a staff that blends high performance and development, the Whai will have back to back championship aspirations and project as a playoff side with upside if the shooting holds and the glass is controlled.
Projected identity
Defence first with length on the wings and quality size to anchor the paint.
Space & Pace through Cowling, McDowell‑White, Dalton and Shearer pushing the pace after stops
Position-less looks when Cowling slides up a spot and Snyder spaces as a face‑up four or as a small ball five. Look for switching defense to come to the forefront in those lineups
Quick Facts
Average height: ~177 cm (5'10)
Frontcourt size: Locandro & Hank both 190 cm; Snyder 183 cm; Cowling 187 cm
| Player | Pos | Height (cm) | Height (ft/in) | Age | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessica McDowell‑White | PG | 170 | 5'7" | 25 | AUS |
| Tayla Dalton | G | 177 | 5'10" | 23 | NZ |
| Emme Shearer | G/W | 182 | 6'0" | 23 | NZ |
| Jade Kirisome | Combo G | 173 | 5'8" | 25 | NZ |
| Mikayla Cowling | G/W | 187 | 6'2" | 29 | USA |
| Laina Snyder | F | 183 | 6'0" | 29 | USA |
| Sophia Locandro | F/C | 190 | 6'3" | 24 | AUS |
| Hannah Hank | F/C | 190 | 6'3" | 24 | AUS |
| Graecyn Parahi | F/SG | 183 | 6'0" | 17 | NZ |
| Laura Kuka | PF | 176 | 5'9" | 32 | NZ |
| Sophie Rogers | SG | 170 | 5'7" | 19 | NZ |
| Storey Sadler | G/SG | 174 | 5'9" | 17 | NZ |
| Riley McClenaghan | G/PG | 164 | 5'5" | 16 | NZ |
| Charis Broughton | PG/SG | 166 | 5'5" | 15 | NZ |
| Shamar Broughton | PG/SG | 172 | 5'8" | 15 | NZ |
Mikayla Cowling (G/W, 187 cm, USA)
The MC is back to make sure the Whai are dancing to the same beat that brought them a title a season ago. A talented wing who can handle and make reads at the nail. Key as a primary creator, both for herself and as a facilitator, she will be a hub for the offense possession after possesion, while defensively she is on the short list of the leagues top defenders that acts as switchable piece across from 1-5.
Jessica McDowell‑White (PG, 170 cm, AUS)
Primary organiser of the offense . Pick‑and‑roll table‑setter who can shift gears and pressure the ball the length of the floor. Will be key as a facilitator while her team first mentality and leadership will be key as the Whai look to emulate last season's championship results.
Tayla Dalton (G, 177 cm, NZ)
Downhill slasher who thrives in early offence. Expect her to punch gaps and live at the rim or collapse the D for kickouts. Her pace will be key in transition opportunities but the first year pro will earn her stripes with a high level motor that will fuel her offense while powering top flight defense.
Emme Shearer (G/W, 182 cm, NZ)
Two‑way wing with size to guard up. Offensively, a clean catch‑and‑shoot profile who runs the lanes hard. Coming off of a stellar collegiate career where she set the mark for games played by a kiwi (154).
Jade Kirisome (Combo G, 173 cm, NZ)
Combo minutes as on‑ball relief; competitive defender who keeps the ball moving. A part time starter a season ago, sbe will be looking for the opportunity to contribute with greater regularity as she gives her all for the club.
Depth & youth: Storey Sadler (174 cm), Sophie Rogers (170 cm), Riley McClenaghan (164 cm), Charis Broughton (166 cm), Shamar Broughton (172 cm). Expect rapid‑fire minutes in RL and situational Tauihi looks for pace and point‑of‑attack defence.
Sophia Locandro (F/C, 190 cm, AUS)
Interior touch with pick‑and‑pop range. Length to contest at the rim and finish as a roller. Her blend of size, length and mobility will be key to the Whai frontcourt plans as her fundamentals will be key on the block while she will need to be effective playing without the ball to reach her full impact.
Hannah Hank (F/C, 190 cm, AUS)
The all around play of Hank will be key, especially as a strong screen‑setter and cleaner of the glass. Pairs well with either a stretch four or a big wing and will be a double-double threat every time she takes the floor. Her work rate and mobility will be top notch, making her a perfect fit for the space and pace style that Whai will be implementing again. Coming off of a stellar NBL1 season she will form part of a formidable international frontcourt, especially with her wealth of experience on tap.
Laina Snyder (F, 183 cm, USA)
Snyder saw here stats drop off from her first Tauihi season as she sacrificed her game for the good of the team, becoming a key force off the bench for last year's title winning Whai. A face‑up four who spaces to the arc and can attack closeouts she profiles as a late‑clock option at the elbow who will be opportunistic with her offensive opportunities. While she may not be called upon with regularity, she has the skill set to deliver when given the opportunity.
Graecyn Parahi (Wing, 183 cm, NZ)
Size on the wing with a developing perimeter game; upside as a switchable defender across 2–4. Originally out of the Hawkes Bay, she will use her length to disrupt on defense while looking to score over smaller players. Another lover of transition where she will look to create for herself and others.
Laura Kuka (PF, 176 cm, NZ)
Physical presence who does the little things: box‑outs, second efforts, weak‑side rotations. Top level fitness means she always adds value with her energy while lifting the play of all her teammates with contagious enthusiasm, especially on the defensive end.
Starters: McDowell‑White, Dalton, Cowling, Shearer, Locandro
Primary bench: Snyder, Hank, Kirisome, Parahi
Situational minutes: Kuka, Sadler, Rogers
Developmental/energy group: McClenaghan, C. Broughton, S. Broughton
Look for closing groups to toggle between defence (Cowling in for extra length; Hank for boards) and spacing (Snyder/Locandro frontcourt with three shooters).
Shooting volume and accuracy: Can the guards lift three‑point rate without sacrificing rim pressure?
Roster turnover: The defending champs found their form late after a slow start, but will the roster turnover be too much change for a team looking to play with space and pace once again?
Glass battle: If the big rotation owns the defensive boards, the transition game unlocks easy points.
Mikayla Cowling = Matchup Nightmare. If she forces wings to guard at the nail, the offence will keep that scoreboard ticking over
Second‑unit defence. Kirisome Kuka and company can flip momentum through ball pressure while feasting on steals in the passing lanes
Frontcourt pairing. Locandro‑Hank together to go with pure size, or Hank‑Snyder for balance. How those combos land will shape the identity of the team as the season ticks along
Head Coach: Tane Bennett
Assistants: Sonny Tuaputa, Adam Dunstan
Development Coach: Maka Daysh
Performance Manager: Crawford Robb
Team Manager: Diane Wykes
Physios: Nikita McGruer, Poppy Kilworth
Fresh to the head coaching gig but with his fingerprints all over last season's tilte run, expect a data‑led approach from Bennett’s high‑performance background with clear defensive rules, quick outlets after rebounds, and a willingness to develop youth within firm role definitions. They will keep the same basic style but where Bennett will have the most influence is yet to be determined.
If the spacing from Snyder, Shearer and Dalton translates and the bigs own the boards, Tauranga project as a top‑four defence with enough pace to win close games late. The meter moves with Cowling’s on‑ball creation and how quickly the young guards become reliable rotation pieces.
Ceiling: Top two finisher with championship hopes
Floor: Top four team that leans on defence while perimeter shooting develops
Most likely: Tough out with a strong defensive rating and improving offensive efficiency through the first month who will be in the mix at the end of the season
