Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa is continuing to make waves in New Zealand's professional sporting landscape.
When it established itself in 2022, it was encouraging some of the nation's best players to return from overseas and apply their trade closer to home.
In 2023, the league introduced the 'Rapid League' concept as a way of fast-forwarding the development of young Kiwi players. This allowed those not named in a side's starting five to get in-game experience and earn their side valuable points for Tauihi's standings. It proved to be a popular concept that was then introduced to their male counterparts in the New Zealand NBL.
Today, the league has signaled greater intentions for expanding NZ women's basketball.
For the 2024 season, player payments will double, and Tauihi is also set to expand beyond New Zealand, with conversations currently taking place with a number of international teams - the details of which are expected to be confirmed and made public in the near future.
Always looking to find new ways to innovate in his previous basketball administration roles, and now as Sky Sport's Head of Commercialisation and Fandom, Justin Nelson is passionate about growing women's basketball.
“Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa has been literally soaring – true to its name – since it started in 2022. I’d like to think the league is forging new ground that will help drive more conversations about innovation and investment in women’s sports,” said Nelson.
“The proposed addition of international teams and increase in player payments will also elevate the reputation of Taiuihi and ensure that it is firmly on the map when it comes to talent considering where to develop their careers.”
Nelson, a regular basketball contributor on SENZ, also states that elite women's basketball players have their best chance to thrive when they are given the proper support to allow them to apply more time to their chosen profession.
The increased pay is made possible by the commercial support provided by Sky as a commercial partner and broadcaster, G.J. Gardner Homes as the current naming rights partner which has extended to 2026, plus major partner Sal's Pizza.
In another big move for Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, their season will shift from July-September, to October-December. The reasoning behind the shift is due to New Zealand's busy sporting calendar in the winter months, with the new schedule designed to give the league the best possible exposure with fans and media alike.
Tauihi also attracts high-calibre international talent - nine players who featured last season had ties to the WNBA, including Australian Opals captain Tess Madgen.
Megan Compain, New Zealand's only player to reach the WNBA to this date, is excited by today's announcement and what it means for the women's game in this part of the world.
“A shift in season will make Tauihi even more attractive to WNBA players, and the prospect of international teams joining the league promises to make it one of the best in the world," said Compain.
“The players receiving a significant pay boost will financially put the teams ahead of many international leagues and really puts Tauihi on the map in a game that is played right around the world.”
Using their 2024 schedule as an example, the WNBA begin training camps April 28, the regular season commences May 14, before crowning a champion October 20 at the latest.
Meanwhile, the WNBL 2023-24 season ran from November 1 to March 13. Tauihi's scheduling change will see it clash with the commencement of the Australian league, rather than running back-to-back as they have done in previous years.
Tauihi's free agency period is set to commence in the coming weeks. Then, the Northern Kāhu will begin their title defence against the Whai, Tokomanawa Queens, Mainland Pouākai, and the Southern Hoiho later in the year.
For more, listen to SENZ Breakfast's interview with Justin Nelson below: