The new women’s national basketball league will be known as Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.
2021 NBL game between Auckland and North Harbour Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The revamp of the league was announced in December and described as a “game-changing,” and more details have been released at today’s league launch,
There will be pay equity with the men’s game which is hoped will bring top tier talent to the competition and better prepare the Tall Ferns for international competition.
Five new regional franchises will play a 12-game home and away regular season tipping off on 29 June.
Megan Compain Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The five teams are Northern (Auckland), Whai (mid-north), Tokomanawa Queens (Central), Mainland Pouakai (upper south) and Southern Hoiho (lower south).
They are licensed franchises with some ownership still held by Basketball New Zealand.
Some of the franchise holders are also involved in the men’s NBL.
Former Tall Fern and Basketball New Zealand board member Megan Compain is also a part owner of the Wellington based Tokomanawa Queens.
Compain says there has been a lot of interest in the new league and every region had at least two ownership group bids looking to get involved.
There has also been plenty of interest from player.
“This commitment and investment in the women’s game is ground-breaking in that it creates an aspirational pathway for Kiwi women to come home and play in a quality, local competition,” says Compain.
“The fact we’re paying our female athletes at the same level as the men’s leagues shows that we’re taking this seriously, which in turn will help attract the best talent to play in this league – it’s a game-changer.
“It’s a fantastic signal in that our female athletes will be making the type of money that allows them to play professionally and to invest in themselves more to become better basketball players; and it signals to fans that this is a top product and worth watching.”
Tall Ferns Kalani Purcell Photo: FIBA
Tauihi means “to soar” in Te Reo Māori.
Team rosters will be confirmed over the coming weeks.
Compain says the Tauihi league fits in nicely with other major leagues overseas and is therefore attracting a lot of interest from local players, international players as well as the top New Zealand talent playing overseas.
“Finally our female basketball community and young girls have an aspirational pathway to play in New Zealand, while from a senior and elite level there is the opportunity to bring our players home.
“We don’t often get a chance to experience that level of professionalism, that level of play with our home-grown talent because they have to ply their trades overseas so the opportunity to bring them home and having them play in front of friends and whanau is so special.”
The new league is completely separate to the men’s NBL, but Compain says franchises are planning on playing some double-headers.
Northern will be based in Otara, Whai in Bay of Plenty, Tokomanawa Queens around Wellington Mainland Pouakai covers Canterbury up to Nelson and Southern Hoiho Otago and Southland.
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