Tauranga Whai

{{Infobox Basketball club

| name = Tauranga Whai

| color1 = #40e0d0

| color2 = navy

| color3 =

| logo = Whai Basketball logo.png

| league = NZNBL

| founded = December 2021

| history = Tauranga Whai
2024–present

| arena = Mercury Baypark

| location = Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

| colours = Turquoise & navy blue

| sponsor =

| gm = John Miller (spokesperson)

| ownership = Bay of Plenty Basketball Foundation

| manager =

| coach = Matt Lacey

| championships = 0

| website = [https://www.whai.basketball/ Whai.basketball]

| h_body =

| h_pattern_b =

| h_shorts =

| h_pattern_s =

| a_body =

| a_pattern_b =

| a_shorts =

| a_pattern_s =

}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/sals-nbl-names-bay-of-plenty-stingrays-as-first-expansion-team-for-2024/|title=SAL'S NBL NAMES BAY OF PLENTY STINGRAYS AS FIRST EXPANSION TEAM FOR 2024|work=nznbl.basketball|date=23 December 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223013630/https://men.nznbl.basketball/sals-nbl-names-bay-of-plenty-stingrays-as-first-expansion-team-for-2024/|archive-date=23 December 2021}}{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300484922/bay-of-plenty-stingrays-unveiled-as-kiwi-nbl-expansion-team-for-2024|title=Bay of Plenty Stingrays unveiled as Kiwi NBL expansion team for 2024|website=Stuff.co.nz|date=23 December 2021|access-date=26 May 2023}} The team was rebranded as Whai in the lead up to their first season and then later officially branded Tauranga Whai.{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/whai-vs-tuatara-auckland-win-big-in-tauranga/|title=WHAI VS. TUATARA: AUCKLAND WIN BIG IN TAURANGA|work=nznbl.basketball|date=6 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506102220/https://nznbl.basketball/whai-vs-tuatara-auckland-win-big-in-tauranga/|archive-date=6 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/airs-vs-whai-taranaki-smash-whai-in-home-opener/|title=AIRS VS. WHAI: TARANAKI SMASH WHAI IN HOME OPENER|work=nznbl.basketball|date=13 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506102610/https://nznbl.basketball/airs-vs-whai-taranaki-smash-whai-in-home-opener/|archive-date=6 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/tauranga-vs-southland-whai-sting-sharks/|title=TAURANGA VS SOUTHLAND: WHAI STING SHARKS|work=nznbl.basketball|date=21 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506103009/https://nznbl.basketball/tauranga-vs-southland-whai-sting-sharks/|archive-date=6 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/tauranga-vs-taranaki-airs-pull-away-in-second-half/|title=TAURANGA VS TARANAKI: AIRS PULL AWAY IN SECOND HALF|work=nznbl.basketball|date=26 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506103332/https://nznbl.basketball/tauranga-vs-taranaki-airs-pull-away-in-second-half/|archive-date=6 May 2024}} The word whai as a noun means stingray in Māori.{{cite web|url=https://www.whai.basketball/|title=About Whai Basketball|work=whai.basketball|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506110948/https://www.whai.basketball/|archive-date=6 May 2024}} As a verb, whai means to chase or pursue.{{cite dictionary|url=https://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/9302|title=whai|dictionary=Te Ara Māori Dictionary|access-date=15 March 2024}}

In October 2023, Whai Basketball announced Matt Lacey as their inaugural men's coach.{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/whai-name-matt-lacey-head-coach-for-inaugural-season/|title=WHAI NAME MATT LACEY HEAD COACH FOR INAUGURAL SEASON|work=nznbl.basketball|date=20 October 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020104358/https://nznbl.basketball/whai-name-matt-lacey-head-coach-for-inaugural-season/|archive-date=20 October 2023}}{{cite web|last=Conchie|first=Sandra|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/tauranga-based-whai-mens-basketball-team-set-to-join-nbl-matt-lacey-revealed-as-head-coach/2YINMARMIZEUTMHSQ5T2AZDZRI/|title=Tauranga-based Whai men's basketball team set to join NBL, Matt Lacey revealed as head coach|website=The New Zealand Herald|publisher=Bay of Plenty Times|date=21 October 2023|access-date=22 October 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022081823/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/tauranga-based-whai-mens-basketball-team-set-to-join-nbl-matt-lacey-revealed-as-head-coach/2YINMARMIZEUTMHSQ5T2AZDZRI/|archive-date=22 October 2023}} In their NBL debut on 28 March 2024, the Whai defeated the Hawke's Bay Hawks 91–70 at Mercury Baypark.{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/whai-vs-hawks-whai-announce-themselves-with-dream-debut/|title=WHAI VS. HAWKS: WHAI ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES WITH DREAM DEBUT|work=nznbl.basketball|date=28 March 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328135533/https://nznbl.basketball/whai-vs-hawks-whai-announce-themselves-with-dream-debut/|archive-date=28 March 2024}} The Whai finished their first season in eighth place with an 8–12 record.{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/stats/competition-stats/?WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F37523%2Fstandings%3F|title=Ladder|work=nznbl.basketball|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729055200/https://nznbl.basketball/stats/competition-stats/?WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F37523%2Fstandings%3F|archive-date=29 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/think-tank-regular-season-wrap/|title=THINK TANK: REGULAR SEASON WRAP|work=nznbl.basketball|date=15 July 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729055123/https://nznbl.basketball/think-tank-regular-season-wrap/|archive-date=29 July 2024}}

==Season by season record==

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

class="wikitable"

style="font-weight:bold; {{Basketball color cell|Tauranga Whai}};"

| Season

W–L%

Finish

style="background:#eee;"

| 2024

8th

(*) Denotes season still in progress

Current roster

{{Basketball roster header|wt=n|age=n

| team=Tauranga Whai (NZNBL)

| color1=#40e0d0 | bg1=navy | color2=#40e0d0 | bg2=navy}}

{{player3 | pos = F/C | num = 1 | nat = NZL | first = Anzac | last = Rissetto | m = 2.08 }}

{{player3 | pos = G/F | num = 2 | nat = NZL | first = Jayden | last = Boucher | m = 1.88 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 3 | nat = NZL | first = Mojave | last = King | m = 1.96 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 4 | nat = NZL | first = Jett | last = Thompson | m = 1.91 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 5 | nat = NZL | first = Kruz | last = Perrott-Hunt | m = 1.91| note = C }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 6 | nat = NZL | first = C. J. | last = Flavell | m = 1.88 }}

{{player3 | pos = G/F | num = 7 | nat = AUS | first = Sean | last = Bairstow | m = 2.03 | note = I }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 8 | nat = NZL | first = Xanda | last = Marsters | m = 1.88 }}

{{player3 | pos = F/C | num = 10 | nat = NZL | first = Denhym | last = Brooke | m = 2.03 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 11 | nat = NZL | first = Liam | last = Davis | dab = basketball | m = }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 12 | nat = NZL | first = Maioro | last = Greensill | m = 1.80 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 13 | nat = NZL | first = Te Tuhi | last = Lewis | m = 1.90 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 14 | nat = NZL | first = Ky-Mani | last = Kaumoana | m = 1.90 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 21 | nat = NZL | first = Sean | last = Murphy | dab = basketball | m = 1.98 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 27 | nat = NZL | first = Carter | last = Hopoi | m = 2.07 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 31 | nat = NZL | first = Michael | last = Wade | dab = basketball | m = }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 32 | nat = NZL | first = Javier | last = Black | m = 1.86 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 66 | nat = NZL | first = Jayden | last = Bezzant | m = 1.88 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = | nat = NZL | first = Taiapau | last = Pakaurangi | m = 1.85 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = | nat = NZL | first = Harlan | last = Roudon | m = }}

{{Basketball roster footer

| head_coach =

{{player||NZL|Matt Lacey}}

| asst_coach =

{{player||NZL|Tane Bennett}}
{{player||NZL|Doug Courtney}}
{{player||NZL|Alex Stojkovic}}

| DP = y

| I = y

| roster_url = https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/NZN/2591868/bs.html

| accessdate = 21 June 2025

}}

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.{{cite web|last=Houpt|first=Emma|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/new-professional-womens-basketball-team-set-to-inspire-young-tauranga-players/TRXWEX7EGC5SHLIJKYKIW3O7ZU/|title=New professional women's basketball team set to inspire young Tauranga players|website=The New Zealand Herald|publisher=Bay of Plenty Times|date=10 May 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506112127/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/new-professional-womens-basketball-team-set-to-inspire-young-tauranga-players/TRXWEX7EGC5SHLIJKYKIW3O7ZU/|archive-date=6 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://tauihi.basketball/tauihi-basketball-aotearoa-season-preview/|title=TAUIHI BASKETBALL AOTEAROA SEASON PREVIEW|work=tauihi.basketball|date=28 June 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630134738/https://tauihi.basketball/tauihi-basketball-aotearoa-season-preview/|archive-date=30 June 2022}} In 2024, the team became known as Tauranga Whai alongside their male counterpart.{{cite web|url=https://tauihi.basketball/2024-g-j-gardner-homes-tauihi-schedule-unveiled/|title=2024 G.J. GARDNER HOMES TAUIHI SCHEDULE UNVEILED|work=tauihi.basketball|date=6 May 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506091504/https://tauihi.basketball/2024-g-j-gardner-homes-tauihi-schedule-unveiled/|archive-date=6 May 2024}} As of 2024, the team plays their home games at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre.{{cite web|url=https://tauihi.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tauihi-2023-Schedule.pdf|title=Tauihi 2023 Schedule|work=tauihi.basketball|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209030310/https://tauihi.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tauihi-2023-Schedule.pdf|archive-date=9 February 2023}}{{cite web|last=Conchie|first=Sandra|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/basketball-tauranga-womens-team-whai-basketball-inspires-new-players-and-fans/SV3BG53XQZGZ5AUPLKKYKF44XU/|title=Basketball: Tauranga women's team Whai Basketball inspires new players and fans|website=The New Zealand Herald|publisher=Bay of Plenty Times|date=8 August 2023|access-date=20 October 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020143359/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/basketball-tauranga-womens-team-whai-basketball-inspires-new-players-and-fans/SV3BG53XQZGZ5AUPLKKYKF44XU/|archive-date=20 October 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://tauihi.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Tauihi-Schedule.png|title=2024 Tauihi Schedule|work=tauihi.basketball|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506091622/https://tauihi.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Tauihi-Schedule.png|archive-date=6 May 2024}} The Whai won the 2024 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship with a 90–71 grand final victory over the Tokomanawa Queens.{{cite web|url=https://tauihi.basketball/whai-claim-championship-victory/|title=Whai Claim Championship Victory|work=tauihi.basketball|date=22 December 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222101208/https://tauihi.basketball/whai-claim-championship-victory/|archive-date=22 December 2024}}{{cite news |title=Tauranga Whai storm to Tauihi basketball crown |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/537414/tauranga-whai-storm-to-tauihi-basketball-crown |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=RNZ |date=22 December 2024 |language=en-nz}}{{cite news |title=Whai complete incredible turnaround with Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship triumph |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360532136/whai-complete-incredible-turnaround-tauihi-basketball-aotearoa-championship-triumph |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=22 December 2024}}

=Women's roster=

{{Basketball roster header|wt=n|age=n

| team=Tauranga Whai (Tauihi)

| color1=#40e0d0 | bg1=navy | color2=#40e0d0 | bg2=navy}}

{{player3 | pos = G/F | num = 3 | nat = USA | first = Mikayla | last = Cowling | m = 1.88 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 4 | nat = NZL | first = Pahlyss | last = Hokianga | m = 1.64 }}

{{player3 | pos = SG | num = 5 | nat = NZL | first = Kaylee | last = Smiler | m = 1.77 }}

{{player3 | pos = C | num = 6 | nat = AUS | first = Lara | last = McSpadden | m = 1.93 }}

{{player3 | pos = SF | num = 7 | nat = NZL | first = Eva | last = Langton | m = 1.85}}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 8 | nat = NZL | first = Emma | last = Rogers | m = 1.77 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 9 | nat = NZL | first = McKenna | last = Dale | m = 1.83}}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 10 | nat = NZL | first = Anika | last = Hyland | m = 1.72 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 11 | nat = AUS | first = Jade | last = Kirisome | m = 1.72}}

{{player3 | pos = PF | num = 14 | nat = USA | first = Laina | last = Synder | m = 1.85}}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 16 | nat = NZL | first = Laura | last = Kuka | m = 1.75 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 18 | nat = NZL | first = Maya | last = Taingahue | m = 1.70 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 20 | nat = USA | first = Ashley | last = Joens | m = 1.83 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 24 | nat = AUS | first = Morgan | last = Yaeger | m = 1.75}}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 44 | nat = AUS | first = McKenna | last = Dale | m = 1.75 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 99 | nat = NZL | first = Maka | last = Daysh | m = 1.85}}

{{Basketball roster footer

| head_coach =

{{player||NZL|Alex Stojkovic}}

| asst_coach =

{{player||NZL|Tane Bennett}}

| DP = y

| I = y

| roster_url = https://www.whai.basketball/roster/

| accessdate = 13 September 2024

}}

References

External links

[https://www.whai.basketball/ Whai Basketball's official website]

Category:National Basketball League (New Zealand) teams

Category:Basketball teams in New Zealand

Category:Sport in the Bay of Plenty Region

Category:Basketball teams established in 2021

Category:2021 establishments in New Zealand