Tauranga Whai

Tauranga Whai
Tauranga Whai logo
LeagueNZNBL
FoundedDecember 2021
HistoryTauranga Whai
2024–present
ArenaMercury Baypark
LocationTauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Team coloursTurquoise & navy blue
General managerJohn Miller (spokesperson)
Head coachMatt Lacey
OwnershipBay of Plenty Basketball Foundation
WebsiteWhai.basketball

The Tauranga Whai are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. The Whai compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Mercury Baypark.

Team history

In December 2021, the Bay of Plenty Basketball Foundation were granted a license to enter a men's team into the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2024 season. The team was initially named the Bay of Plenty Stingrays.[1][2] The team was rebranded as Whai in the lead up to their first season and then later officially branded Tauranga Whai.[3][4][5][6] The word whai as a noun means stingray in Māori.[7] As a verb, whai means to chase or pursue.[8]

In October 2023, Whai Basketball announced Matt Lacey as their inaugural men's coach.[9][10] In their NBL debut on 28 March 2024, the Whai defeated the Hawke's Bay Hawks 91–70 at Mercury Baypark.[11] The Whai finished their first season in eighth place with an 8–12 record.[12][13]

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Tauranga Whai (NZNBL) roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 0 United States Holland, Demarcus (I) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 2 New Zealand Boucher, Jayden 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 4 New Zealand Thompson, Jett 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
G 5 New Zealand Perrott-Hunt, Kruz 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
G 6 New Zealand Roudon, Harlan
G 7 New Zealand Greensill, Maioro 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
F 8 New Zealand McBirney-Griffin, Akiva 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
G 9 New Zealand Marsters, Xanda 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F/C 10 New Zealand Brooke, Denhym 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
C 11 New Zealand Stephens, Maxim Injured 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
G 13 New Zealand Lewis, Te Tuhi 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 21 New Zealand Anderson, Zion 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 22 United States Carr, Phillip (I) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
F 27 New Zealand Hopoi, Carter 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)
F 41 New Zealand Dunstan, Adam 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
G 59 New Zealand Van Der Leden, Te Maire
G 66 New Zealand Bezzant, Jayden (C) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G New Zealand Flavell, C. J. 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F New Zealand Hayward, Nick 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
G New Zealand Heke, Mahnaya 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
G New Zealand Rogers, Murphy 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Head coach
  • New Zealand Matt Lacey
Assistant coach(es)
  • New Zealand Tane Bennett
  • New Zealand Doug Courtney
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 13 June 2024

Women's team

Whai Basketball debuted in 2022 with a women's team, Mid-North Whai, in the inaugural season of the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.[14][15] In 2024, the team became known as Tauranga Whai alongside their male counterpart.[16] As of 2024, the team plays their home games at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre.[17][18][19]

Women's roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Tauranga Whai (Tauihi) roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G/F 3 United States Cowling, Mikayla 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 4 New Zealand Hokianga, Pahlyss 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
SG 5 New Zealand Smiler, Kaylee 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
C 6 Australia McSpadden, Lara 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
SF 7 New Zealand Langton, Eva 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 8 New Zealand Rogers, Emma 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
G 9 New Zealand Dale, McKenna 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 10 New Zealand Hyland, Anika 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
G 11 Australia Kirisome, Jade 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
PF 14 United States Synder, Laina 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 16 New Zealand Kuka, Laura 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 18 New Zealand Taingahue, Maya 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
F 20 United States Joens, Ashley 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 24 Australia Yaeger, Morgan 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 44 Australia Dale, McKenna 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
F 99 New Zealand Daysh, Maka 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Head coach
  • New Zealand Alex Stojkovic
Assistant coach(es)
  • New Zealand Tane Bennett
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 13 September 2024

References

  1. ^ "SAL'S NBL NAMES BAY OF PLENTY STINGRAYS AS FIRST EXPANSION TEAM FOR 2024". nznbl.basketball. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021.
  2. ^ Hinton, Marc (23 December 2021). "Bay of Plenty Stingrays unveiled as Kiwi NBL expansion team for 2024". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ^ "WHAI VS. TUATARA: AUCKLAND WIN BIG IN TAURANGA". nznbl.basketball. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  4. ^ "AIRS VS. WHAI: TARANAKI SMASH WHAI IN HOME OPENER". nznbl.basketball. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  5. ^ "TAURANGA VS SOUTHLAND: WHAI STING SHARKS". nznbl.basketball. 21 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  6. ^ "TAURANGA VS TARANAKI: AIRS PULL AWAY IN SECOND HALF". nznbl.basketball. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  7. ^ "About Whai Basketball". whai.basketball. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  8. ^ "whai". Te Ara Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  9. ^ "WHAI NAME MATT LACEY HEAD COACH FOR INAUGURAL SEASON". nznbl.basketball. 20 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023.
  10. ^ Conchie, Sandra (21 October 2023). "Tauranga-based Whai men's basketball team set to join NBL, Matt Lacey revealed as head coach". The New Zealand Herald. Bay of Plenty Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  11. ^ "WHAI VS. HAWKS: WHAI ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES WITH DREAM DEBUT". nznbl.basketball. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Ladder". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
  13. ^ "THINK TANK: REGULAR SEASON WRAP". nznbl.basketball. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
  14. ^ Houpt, Emma (10 May 2022). "New professional women's basketball team set to inspire young Tauranga players". The New Zealand Herald. Bay of Plenty Times. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  15. ^ "TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA SEASON PREVIEW". tauihi.basketball. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022.
  16. ^ "2024 G.J. GARDNER HOMES TAUIHI SCHEDULE UNVEILED". tauihi.basketball. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Tauihi 2023 Schedule" (PDF). tauihi.basketball. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2023.
  18. ^ Conchie, Sandra (8 August 2023). "Basketball: Tauranga women's team Whai Basketball inspires new players and fans". The New Zealand Herald. Bay of Plenty Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  19. ^ "2024 Tauihi Schedule". tauihi.basketball. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.