Ashley Joens has signed a contract with the Whai Tauihi women's basketball team of Tauranga, New Zealand. As I understand it isxa three month contract.
Ashley Joens to New Zealand
- Thread starter CloneSt8
- Start date
Not sure what their basketball is like, but New Zealand is right behind Ireland on my travel wish list.
After a season in Sardinia, now a season in New Zealand. Awesome.
Italian Riviera to NZ,..... and getting paid.
Good on ya, Ash.
Italian Riviera to NZ,..... and getting paid.
Good on ya, Ash.
I had talked to Ashley's mom at the restaurant a week ago and found this out. She said that why she chose New Zealand over returning to Italy was training. Ashley was frustrated that the Italian teams were too nonchalant about training. Ashley could not get into a gym to up up shots when she wanted to last year. She had told her agent what she was looking for and ended up in New Zealand. Hope it works out for her.
Which is interesting to me considering that "netball" is the most popular womens sport in NZ.
IMO i can't take a country seriously who plays netball as a main sport. its like a game some drunk PE teacher made up in the 90's so that non athletes could play something, but the game just did enough to keep actual athletes content during class.
Maybe NZ is starting to go all in on basketball all the sudden?
Since we've had a handful of players from Australia in the past, I sat down and watched some netball on youtube one day when I had nothing better to do. And I can confirm: netball is the worst. It looks like something that was invented by someone who thought 6-on-6 basketball was too exciting for young women's delicate constitutions.
EDIT: The truth is not far from this. Netball was invented as a version of women's basketball and is still primarily played by women.
History of netball - Wikipedia
If you don't believe me, check out the "highlights" from this "INSANE" game:
Good share and kind of funnySince we've had a handful of players from Australia in the past, I sat down and watched some netball on youtube one day when I had nothing better to do. And I can confirm: netball is the worst. It looks like something that was invented by someone who thought 6-on-6 basketball was too exciting for young women's delicate constitutions.
EDIT: The truth is not far from this. Netball was invented as a version of women's basketball and is still primarily played by women.
History of netball - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Good for her- Travel the world make some cash all good IMO-
I really don't know how you can excitingly call Play by play on this sport. I just don't get the appeal of letting someone shoot uncontested set shots as layups with no backboard.
hopefully ashley can help move the needle with real basketball down there....lol
Ashley scores 25 points with 7 Rebounds, 6 Assists and 2 Steals in her NBL debut, leading Whai to a 98-80 victory on Saturday night. Her teammates in the starting lineup included Lara McSpadden (Australia), Laina Snyder (American - Ashland University), McKenna Dale (American - UVA) and Jade Kirisome (Australian - played at St. Mary's - California).
https://tauihi.basketball/whai-punish-pouakai-with-scoring-spree/
https://tauihi.basketball/whai-punish-pouakai-with-scoring-spree/
Not sure how much money she's making but enough money for rent and ramen and getting to live in New Zealand for a year in your early 20s before "real" life responsibilities start to kick in sounds fun.
Ashley Joens plays for Tauranga Whai in the 6-Team New Zealand Rapid League. The Whai play(s) a ten-game round-robin schedule, followed by playoffs in December.
New Zealand Rapid League Schedule:
The games appear to be broadcast on the ESPN family of Networks, both Live (1:30am) and On Demand:
www.espn.com
Of general interest, Whai is a Te Reo Māori word meaning Stingray. In Māori mythology, the Whai is kaitiaki (community guardians), protecting the areas where shellfish – the successful bounty – can be harvested. The Whai are a feature of the Tauranga moana (sea). Whai is also a verb in Te Reo Māori, meaning “to chase, pursue, or aim for.”
End with a fun rumor: The Whai have a 16 year-old on their roster who has reportedly impressed ISU's all-time leader scorer during preseason practices. A quick roster review reveals Pahlyss Hokianga, who played in 12 games for the Whai in 2023, presently attends HS at Tauranga Girls College and played for NZ in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament game vs China. If she ends up in Ames, you heard it here first!
New Zealand Rapid League Schedule:
The games appear to be broadcast on the ESPN family of Networks, both Live (1:30am) and On Demand:
Watch ESPN - Stream Live Sports & ESPN Originals
With Watch ESPN you can stream live sports and ESPN originals, watch the latest game replays and highlights, and access featured ESPN programming online.
www.espn.com
Of general interest, Whai is a Te Reo Māori word meaning Stingray. In Māori mythology, the Whai is kaitiaki (community guardians), protecting the areas where shellfish – the successful bounty – can be harvested. The Whai are a feature of the Tauranga moana (sea). Whai is also a verb in Te Reo Māori, meaning “to chase, pursue, or aim for.”
End with a fun rumor: The Whai have a 16 year-old on their roster who has reportedly impressed ISU's all-time leader scorer during preseason practices. A quick roster review reveals Pahlyss Hokianga, who played in 12 games for the Whai in 2023, presently attends HS at Tauranga Girls College and played for NZ in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament game vs China. If she ends up in Ames, you heard it here first!
The Rapid league is separate from the main Tauihi league, but has the same players and teams.
It's an interesting setup. The Rapid league is effectively a shorter "JV" game (16 minutes), played before the regular league game. Teams announce their starting 5 for the "varsity" game, and those 5 aren't allowed to play in the Rapid game. Only 6 through 12 on the roster are eligible.
And the Rapid games have their own standings/points, which are then folded in to main league standings at the end of the season.
Really an inventive way to get everybody some playing time, while still making it competitive.
NZNBL: New Zealand National Basketball League
tauihi.basketball
I appreciate the clarification - the legend on the Schedule included "Rapid League", so I incorrectly went with it! It was easier to type than Tauihi, but I honestly didn't know the details.The Rapid league is separate from the main Tauihi league, but has the same players and teams.
It's an interesting setup. The Rapid league is effectively a shorter "JV" game (16 minutes), played before the regular league game. Teams announce their starting 5 for the "varsity" game, and those 5 aren't allowed to play in the Rapid game. Only 6 through 12 on the roster are eligible.
And the Rapid games have their own standings/points, which are then folded in to main league standings at the end of the season.
Really an inventive way to get everybody some playing time, while still making it competitive.
NZNBL: New Zealand National Basketball League
I lifted Lilly Taulelei's bio from the UMASS website and she appears to have played in the NBL:
Before UMass: Contracted player with the Tokomanawa Queens in 2022 ... Made the Wellington U19 Basketball Representative Team ... Competed for the New Zealand U14 Basketball Team, helping the team to a gold medal in Melbourne, Australia ... Captained the New Zealand U15 Basketball Team, guiding the team to the National U15 Championships and gaining selection to the Tournament Team ... Was also named the Tournament MVP ... With the New Zealand U16 Basketball Team, she aided the team to a fourth-place finish at the Asia Cup Championships in 2021, qualifying for the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup, where the team placed 12th ... Became the first female in New Zealand Basketball history to be selected to the Jr. NBA Global Championship ... Named the team captain of the Jr. NBA Asia Pacific Team ... Played with the New Zealand Tall Ferns ... Captain of her high school varsity team in 2020 ... Earned Team MVP and ranked fourth in points scored in the high school competition ... Tabbed High School Female Basketball Player of the Year ... Garnered College Sport Sportsperson Basketball of the Year ... Lauded College Sport Sportsperson Sportsperson of the Year accolade ... Selected to compete in the Women's National Basketball League, a professional/amateur competition for elite female basketball players, as the youngest ever to compete at the level ... Averaged 20 minutes per game, 4.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game in six contests played
If Ashley recommends Pahlyss Hokianga to CBF, I would expect LT could assist in the recruitment!
They can also be viewed on FIBA's Youtube channel:Ashley Joens plays for Tauranga Whai in the 6-Team New Zealand Rapid League. The Whai play(s) a ten-game round-robin schedule, followed by playoffs in December.
New Zealand Rapid League Schedule:
The games appear to be broadcast on the ESPN family of Networks, both Live (1:30am) and On Demand:
Watch ESPN - Stream Live Sports & ESPN Originals
With Watch ESPN you can stream live sports and ESPN originals, watch the latest game replays and highlights, and access featured ESPN programming online.
Of general interest, Whai is a Te Reo Māori word meaning Stingray. In Māori mythology, the Whai is kaitiaki (community guardians), protecting the areas where shellfish – the successful bounty – can be harvested. The Whai are a feature of the Tauranga moana (sea). Whai is also a verb in Te Reo Māori, meaning “to chase, pursue, or aim for.”
End with a fun rumor: The Whai have a 16 year-old on their roster who has reportedly impressed ISU's all-time leader scorer during preseason practices. A quick roster review reveals Pahlyss Hokianga, who played in 12 games for the Whai in 2023, presently attends HS at Tauranga Girls College and played for NZ in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament game vs China. If she ends up in Ames, you heard it here first!
FIBA Basketball
Welcome to FIBA's official YouTube channel, the ultimate destination for basketball fans around the world! We're excited to bring you the best of the game straight from the court to your screen. From live games, highlights, shorts, an active community, to interviews with top players and...
www.youtube.com
Tauihi - Round Two Results:
tauihi.basketball
Ashley scores 29 points in 87-75 road loss to Northern Kahu - has been fouled 20 times thru two games!
NZNBL: New Zealand National Basketball League
tauihi.basketball
