This award recognises a notable contribution to women’s basketball in New Zealand. Lori McDaniel followed in her mother’s footsteps playing for North Canterbury, Canterbury and the Canterbury Wildcats. After graduating from Rangiora High School she played at Casper College in Wyoming and then NCAA Division I at Butler University.
Back in New Zealand she was Head Coach of the Canterbury Wildcats Team that won back-to-back WBC titles in 2016 and 2017. She received the Carolyn Grey Coach of the Year Award in both of those years. Lori was also Head Coach of the NZ Under 17 Women’s team that finished fourth at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championships, and Head Coach of the NZ Women’s team at the 2017 FIBA U17 World Cup in Belarus.
She is also currently Head Coach of the New Zealand U17 Women’s team preparing for the Asia Cup that will be played in Jordan in June. Following a seven year stint as Community Coach and Women’s Development Manager for Canterbury Basketball Lori, last year, took up the position of Community Lead across the Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury and North Canterbury Associations for BBNZ.
