photo credit: Masanori Udagawa
The third edition of G.J Gardner Homes Tauihi tips off this Friday night when the ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens host Southern Hoiho, it will be the start of a 33-game stretch that will take T3 all the way to the Grand Final on Sunday December 22.
The talent level across all five Tauihi teams is the highest yet, as increased player payments and a new competition window come into effect. All up 25 international stars will join no less than 35 Kiwi stars in what promises to be the toughest, fastest and most competitive pro women's basketball league New Zealand has ever seen.
But who are the players to watch? Who are the players we'll be talking about the most? Who will be the most IMPACTFUL players?
Sky Sport commentators Casey Frank and Justin Nelson are just as excited about T3 and the star power about to step on court, but can they pick the top 10 players who will make the biggest IMPACT across the season? Let's test their skills in prognostication below:
#1
Justin Nelson: I have Jordan Horston (Queens) as the most impactful player in T3. The 76-game current WNBA star with Seattle Storm is coming off a very successful season in the world's best competition. Horston is a true two-way player, her defensive skills are elite, and she is a stocks specialist (steals + blocks). She can also score heavily and has a high IQ, at just 23 she is on the rise. If Horston brings her best to Tauihi, she will be so much fun to watch and the hardest player to stop.
Casey Frank: I'm going with Jordan Horston (Queens) to have the most impact this season. What a coup to have an active WNBA player come to our shores and take part in a season of Tauihi. I'm interested to see if her scoring takes a huge jump in this comp (6.8pts, 4.3reb during WNBA regular season) or if she becomes the ultimate role player locking down opposing scorers and being an initiator on offense for a talented and deep team. Either way the impact will be immense.
#2
Nelson: I'm going with Ashley Joens (Whai) at number 2. The gifted guard came from the same WNBA draft class as Jordan Horston, albeit 10 spots lower at pick 19 (Dallas Wings). With 19 WNBA games under her belt, it's safe to say Joens' collegiate career makes for compelling reading. She played 158 games at Iowa State (all starts), with per game averages of 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds, plus a handy 36% from three. Joens also won a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup and in 2021 she was named eh best small forward in college basketball. With over 3000 NCAA points, and standing at just 183 centimeters, Joens' rebounding numbers are astounding. In her super senior year (5th year) she led the Big 12 scoring and ranked third for rebounds, which led her to be named Big 12 Player of the Year.
Frank: I'm going with Jihyun Park (Queens) at 2. The Olympian comes to Tauihi with an impressive resume and is a true 2-way player with good size when playing in her preferred point forward role. She's my sneaky pick for MVP as I envision her finishing skill benefiting from the all around games of her teammates (Horston and Florencia Chagas in particular). The wee little caveat I have for the impact of the Queens top players is that the overall depth may impact the statistical impact.
#3
Nelson: I have a bolter at number 3 in Jihyun Park (Queens). The South Korean national team player is going to be incredibly impactful in this competition - she is tough, unrelenting and packed with skills at both ends of the floor. A genuine all-round player, the Queens style of play will suit Park perfectly and I expect she will play big minutes.
Frank: Mikayla Cowling (Whai) sits at 3 for me based on the outsized impact of her game a season ago. She is a two-way weapon locking down on defense while playing bigger than her measurements and being a weapon on offense that can beat her opponent off the dribble, with the jump shot or down on the low block. I thought she was the best player in the comp a season ago and was impressed with her play every time she hit the court. Tough news for her and the Whai with an injury costing around a third of the season, which will most likely lessen the impact but if she is able to get back to full speed quickly she will be impacting things in a big way down the stretch.
#4
Nelson: Paige Bradley (Hoiho) slots in at number 4 for me. She was selected to the Tauihi All-Star 5 last season off the back of 14.6 points and a league-high 7.8 assists per game, which included 10 or more assists in four games. Bradley looks to have even more shooters around her this season, so those assist numbers could rise. Her importance and impact for the Hoiho is crucial.
Frank: Iimar'I Thomas (Kāhu) Walking bucket, if she catches it in the low-post you may as well just waive the white flag. Her strength in the low post is hidden by her skill as I don't think anyone has better footwork in the league. She punishes the mis-match when a switch comes her way and if you give her extra defensive attention she becomes a penetrating passer, with little drops offs out of the double for easy finishes or by popping to the high post to pull away paint defenders and open up angles for her high low partnership with Penina Davidson. Love the way she goes about her business and will enjoy watching her make defenses crumble again this season.
#5
Nelson: Mikayla Cowling (Whai) is a star! Based on what we saw from the WNBA star last season there is every chance she will be one of the most impactful players again this time around, but it might all come down to her recovery from foot surgery. Current reports have Cowling (who has just had foot surgery back in United States) missing the first month of the T3 season. Cowling was a Tauihi whirlwind in 2023, her non-stop effort pushed the Whai all the way to the semi-finals. Cowling's league rankings last season were elite - 23.1 points (4th), 9.5 rebounds (3rd), 1.9 steals (1st), free throws 91.9% (2nd) and 4.1 assists (6th). Her impact is extremely high and the Whai will look to her over the second half of the season.
Frank: Tahlia Tupaea (Kāhu) the former MVP is back after an injury shortened season saw her sidelined for much of the Kāhu Championship run. She has immense power as a scorer which surprises defenders when she penetrates the paint and dislodges defenders before dropping in buckets. She's coming off an NBL1 season where she was able to get back to full strength while dropping just under 25 points per game. Much of the perimeter scoring for the Kāhu will come off the back of her efforts which should highlight her impact game to game.
#6
Nelson: Tahlia Tupaea (Kāhu) slots in at number 6. When you're talking impact, Tupaea is as tough as they come, and she has the ability to impact a game in so many ways. Her aggressive drives to the basket are so hard to stop, and more often than not she forces contact and gets to the Chemist Warehouse stripe. Provided she stays fit and healthy, Tupaea's impact this season should be sky high.
Frank: Ashley Joens (Whai) has an impeccable collegiate resume and will really lift the Whai scoring numbers, especially in the half court where she will execute off screens with a smooth jump shot and manufacture a mid-range game off the bounce. The smooth jump shot will be a weapon from deep and her ball handling ability and handle will keep things moving in the transition game. Flat out scorer!!
#7
Nelson: You need look no further than last season to see the impact Iimar'I Thomas (Kāhu) can have on a game. The undersized forward was quite extraordinary in 2023 - averaging 26.5 points per game (1st in Tauihi), along with 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and an impressive 60.7 FG% and 43.8 3PT%. Thomas' work under the basket is elite, but she can also punish teams from deep. If Thomas has another impactful season for the Kāhu, then we could be looking as a back-to-back Tauihi championship - for Thomas and the Kāhu.
Frank: Tamari Key (Queens) If we're talking pure impact I'm not sure who will have a greater one than Key a low-post performer with imposing size, length, shot blocking ability who defends the paint then rebounds to start breaks with kick outs to her wings. 5 years at the prestigious University of Tennessee gives her experience that exceeds what you would expect from a player relatively unexperienced as a pro. But the impact I'm looking for is on the defensive end her shot blocking is going to shut down the paint for opposing players and form the backbone of what should be an imposing defense for the Queens.
#8
Nelson: It's hard not to have Penina Davidson (Kāhu) in the top 10 players for impact, the Tall Ferns center simply belongs here. I'm expecting a double-double average from Davidson for the season, though she is likely to face higher quality opponents this time around. The Kāhu will be looking for another big campaign from Davidson and I think she can deliver her best Tauihi season yet.
Frank: Florencia Chagas (Queens) I can't believe I have Chagas this low!! the inaugural finals MVP for Tauihi was one of my favourite players in T1 with her skill off the bounce and enthusiasm for the game. A talented scorer in transition she could see that scoring prowess drop off a bit this season as she concentrates on her facilitating skills which are vast. The Argentinian is coming off a season in Italy that offered limited opportunity so I expect her to leap into the Tauihi season and the opportunity it provides to display the full depth of her skills.
#9
Nelson: I'm going to break the rules here and put Florencia Chagas (Queens) and Tamari Key (Queens) together because I think they could be Tauihi's most impactful duo if they master an elite two-player game. Standing at 198-centimeters, Key is the tallest player in the competition this year, while Chagas is a WNBA drafted star with solid Tauihi experience (season 2022). If the pair can master their pick-and-roll craft, their inside-outside game, and Key passing to Chagas on the break, we will see an impactful duo.
Frank: Stella Beck (Queens) We're talking impact so I'll leave the stats to the side but a season ago the impact of Beck was palpable every time she took the court. Her abilities as a connector will be key once again for the Queens this season, and maybe of even more import with the number of scorers they have on hand. A multi-positional defender that exudes leadership whose missed presence is felt whenever she isn't on the floor, evidenced by the gaping hole she left in the Queens lineup during last years title game. A consummate coach on the floor the Queens are better whenever she is on the floor, and what better impact can you have than that.
#10
Nelson: So many good players could be here - Laina Snyder (Whai), McKenzie Forbes (Pouākai), McKenna Dale (Whai), Stella Beck (Queens), Zoe Richards (Hoiho), Esra McGoldrick (Pouākai), Lou Brown (Queens) and I think Samantha Bowman (Hoiho) could have a big season as well, but I'm going with Cassandra Brown (Pouākai) with my last spot. The 188-centimeter Canadian forward should be given all the minutes she can handle, and she has a good track record of getting the job done. Having played in the Australian WNBL last season with Townsville, Brown will be well accustomed to the more physical style of play in this part of the world. I think she could rise to be the Pouākai's best player this season.
Frank: Zoe Richards (Hoiho) A season ago Richards was able to excel it the power forward position as she lifted her game to new heights. A new season brings higher expectations but I feel that she will be able to reach them. All hustle when on the court, her work rate allows her effect on the game to not be focused on scoring only, but score she can especially when paired with a facilitator as skilled as Paige Bradley. Look for Zoe to be an engine for the Hoiho one again this season as her infectious style of play impacts the game every minute she's on the court.
