2degrees Tall Ferns head coach, Natalie Hurst has today named an extended squad of 18 athletes in contention for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifier tournament in Mexico.
The extended squad includes: Ella Bradley, McKenna Dale, Penina Davidson, Bailey Flavell, Ella Fotu, Pahlyss Hokianga, Maia Jones, Eva Langton, Esra McGoldrick, Tara Manumaleuga, Tera Reed, Kaylee Smiler, Dominique Stephens, Ashlee Strawbridge, Ritorya Tamilo, Ella Tofaeono, Charlotte Whittaker and Lauren Whittaker.
This group will attend a Tall Ferns selection camp from 2-12 August in San Francisco, with Kiwi Olivia Williams – who attends the University of California, Irvine – also part of this camp as a train-on player. As part of the selection camp process, the extended 2degrees Tall Ferns squad will also play a pair of exhibition games against a WPBA Stars team on 8 and 9 August.
Following this, a final squad of 12 will be selected for the Pre-Qualifiers in Mexico City – held from 19-25 August with the 2degree Tall Ferns set to play Mexico, Montenegro and Mozambique in Group B. If the Tall Ferns can finish first in this tournament, they will qualify for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments in 2026.
This extended squad includes eight athletes capped at Tall Ferns senior national team level in Dale, Davidson, Fotu, Hokianga, McGoldrick, Reed, Tamilo and Lauren Whittaker; with Langton and Manumaleuga also recently playing a pair of friendly games in Japan, as part of a Tall Ferns Select Team.
The squad dynamic also sees eight of the 18 athletes currently playing basketball at US College level, while seven others are active in NBL1 in Australia. Flavell and Hokianga are recent returnees from the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Mexico, while both Dominique Stephens and Jones are currently representing New Zealand at the FIBA U23 3×3 Nations League in Kuala Lumpur.
Opportunity To Impress For Jones
For 19-year-old Maia Jones, this opportunity to be part of the Tall Ferns squad is something she has long aspired to.
“I was very excited when I found out about it, it’s always been the goal for me [to play Tall Ferns] and a dream of mine,” says Jones.
Jones knows she will have to put her best foot forward for this selection camp to considered for the final squad of 12, and has received advice from family – as well as her Saint Mary’s teammate, Tall Fern Tayla Dalton – on what she needs to do to impress.
“For me I need to give it my all, just focus on playing my game and not shy away from the opportunity – this is my first real chance to show the Tall Ferns what I can do.
“I know I’ll be going up against a lot of talented guards in this extended squad, but I also know with some of the veterans being out like Tayla [Dalton] and Charlisse [Leger-Walker], there’s an opportunity to earn a spot in the final 12. Tayla has been really helpful in telling me what to expect and helping me with nerves, which has been great.”
Return From Injury For Fotu
Another intriguing name on the Tall Ferns roster is Ella Fotu, who last suited up for the Tall Ferns back in 2019 for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. A lot has happened since then; including a long period of inactivity for the Tall Ferns programme due to the Covid pandemic, and a serious injury for Ella at the start of last year, which forced her off the court for the majority of 2023.
After a lot of hard work and dedication, Ella has been able to return to the court this year – including an impressive run with the 3×3 Tall Ferns at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup where the team placed second overall. Fotu says that she can’t wait to put on the black jersey again for New Zealand.
“I’m really excited to be back in the mix, it’s been quite a while and I’ll be at camp with such talented girls – including some of my old [Tall Ferns] teammates – and I’m happy to be fully back from injury,” says Fotu.
“Anyone who has done an injury like mine [ACL] knows that it’s definitely a process and you learn a lot about yourself from it, I’m quite proud of myself to have stuck through [the recovery], which was also thanks to having an amazing support system in place.
“I’m excited to play with Tera [Reed] and Penina [Davidson] again, and I’m just so grateful for this opportunity to put on the black jersey again. I’ve put in a lot of work to be where I am, and I guess my mindset changes as I get older – so I’m just going to go and do my best and enjoy the time and the people.”
2degrees Tall Ferns Extended Squad of 18, 2024
Ella Bradley, University of Texas at Tyler (US)
McKenna Dale, Whai
Penina Davidson, Keilor Thunder (NBL1)
Bailey Flavell, Harbour Basketball Association
Ella Fotu, Perth Eastern Suns (NBL1)
Pahlyss Hokianga, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Maia Jones, Saint Mary’s Gaels (US)
Eva Langton, Norwood Flames (NBL1)
Esra McGoldrick, Casey Cavaliers (NBL1)
Tara Manumaleuga, Texas Christian University (US)
Tera Reed, Keilor Thunder (NBL1)
Kaylee Smiler, BYU Cougars (US)
Dominique Stephens, Rocky Mountain Bears (US)
Ashlee Strawbridge, West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL1)
Ritorya Tamilo, University of Hawaii (US)
Ella Tofaeono, Townsville Flames (NBL1)
Charlotte Whittaker, University of Colorado (US)
Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga University (US)
FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifier tournament, Mexico
Montenegro vs New Zealand, 11.30am NZT Tue 20 August
New Zealand vs Mexico, 2.30pm NZT Thu 22 August
Mozambique vs New Zealand, 11.30am NZT Fri 23 August
