The Tauranga Whai are a New Zealand 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.
Tauranga Whai | |
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League | NZNBL |
Founded | December 2021 |
History | Tauranga Whai 2024–present |
Arena | Mercury Baypark |
Location | Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand |
Team colours | Turquoise & navy blue |
General manager | John Miller (spokesperson) |
Head coach | Matt Lacey |
Ownership | Bay of Plenty Basketball Foundation |
Website | Whai.basketball |
Team history
editIn 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
editNote: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 13 June 2024 |
Women's team
editWhai 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
editNote: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
Tauranga Whai (Tauihi) roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 29 July 2024 |
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ Hinton, Marc (23 December 2021). "Bay of Plenty Stingrays unveiled as Kiwi NBL expansion team for 2024". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "WHAI VS. TUATARA: AUCKLAND WIN BIG IN TAURANGA". nznbl.basketball. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
- ^ "AIRS VS. WHAI: TARANAKI SMASH WHAI IN HOME OPENER". nznbl.basketball. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
- ^ "TAURANGA VS SOUTHLAND: WHAI STING SHARKS". nznbl.basketball. 21 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
- ^ "TAURANGA VS TARANAKI: AIRS PULL AWAY IN SECOND HALF". nznbl.basketball. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
- ^ "About Whai Basketball". whai.basketball. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
- ^ "whai". Te Ara Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "WHAI NAME MATT LACEY HEAD COACH FOR INAUGURAL SEASON". nznbl.basketball. 20 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "WHAI VS. HAWKS: WHAI ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES WITH DREAM DEBUT". nznbl.basketball. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Ladder". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
- ^ "THINK TANK: REGULAR SEASON WRAP". nznbl.basketball. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA SEASON PREVIEW". tauihi.basketball. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022.
- ^ "2024 G.J. GARDNER HOMES TAUIHI SCHEDULE UNVEILED". tauihi.basketball. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Tauihi 2023 Schedule" (PDF). tauihi.basketball. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2024 Tauihi Schedule". tauihi.basketball. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.