Basketball New Zealand

Women's Basketball Championship

The final tournament of the inaugural Women’s Basketball Championship tips-off at Southwest Stadium, Wellington, on Thursday.

The Harbour Breeze, winners of the previous two WBC tournaments this season, will battle it out with the Canterbury Wildcats, Otago Gold Rush, Waikato Wizards and Taranaki Trojans in the championship section, with the title decided on Saturday.

The host Wellington Swish will play the NZ Academy, GABBA Gators, Waikato Cougars and invitees Hutt Valley in the plate section, with a spot in the plate final at stake.

Harbour bring a team stacked with current and former Tall Ferns – squad members Chelsea Terei and Pip Connell filling the current and Charmian Purcell, Jodi Cameron, Noni Wharemate and Karlene Kingi filling the former.

Suzie Bates, a Tall Ferns Beijing Olympian, and Tall Ferns squad member Samara Gallaher will turn out for the Otago Gold Rush, while other national squad players Erin Rooney and Georgina Richards will play for the Canterbury Wildcats and Zoe Kensington for the Taranaki Trojans and Natasha Hall for the NZ Academy.

Women’s Basketball Championship

August 20-22

Southwest Stadium, Wellington

Harbour Breeze

Chelsea Terei, Pip Charlesworth, Karlene Kingi, Jodi Cameron, Pip Connell, Kate Lacey, Charmian Purcell, Te Rina Noon, Chanel Pompellier, Justine Reed, Noni Wharemate, Jenny Bindon

Canterbury Wildcats

Erin Rooney, Georgina Richards, Sarah French, Sophie Ward, Stacey Costain, Hannah McKay, Shea Crotty, Megan Shea, Miranda Caldwell

Otago Gold Rush

Janet Main, Elise Cassidy, Chantelle McKenzie, Samara Gallaher, Danielle Calnan, Suzie Bates, Jacqui Lodge, Kelly Groot, Zoe Cadzow, Poppy Saker-Norrish

Waikato Wizards

Lucy Driscoll, Sharee Hamilton, Natasha Lenden, Leanne Walker, Jewell Bennion, Monique Albert, Ashleigh Cargo, Tania Heale, Jannica Clark, Miriam Slatter

Taranaki Trojans

Jodi Hikuroa, Zoe Kensington, Jenna Kensington, Terai Sadler, Amber Bellringer, Jordan Hunter, Natalie Moore, Bella McCallum, Caitlin Preston, Lisa Hamilton

Wellington Swish

Melissa LeToa, Renee Leota, Fairen Lepaio, Jasmine Davis, Molly McCallum, Rebecca Van Kuyk, Donna Fermanis, Katie Harris, Kayla Kiriau, Shanee Kiriau, TeAmo Amaru Tibble

NZ Academy

Petra Erceg, Natasha Hall, Courtney Hamblin, Naomi Hiakita, Jordan Hunter, Ashliegh Kelman-Poto, Anna Lacey, Milika Nathan, Lisa Scott, Jelena Vucinic

Waikato Cougars

Roster not provided

GABBA Gators

Stevee Theyers, Adoniah Lewis, Ema Bryant, Emma Gillespie, Nina Nilsen, Rose Felise, Priscilla Roberts, Tatjana Zizic, Grace Newton, Freya Newton

Hutt Valley

Terina Cowan, Mariana Cowan, Jenifer Bayly, Nina Hemopo, Catherine Messenger-Weepu, Natalie Ngata, Dana Mauriohoohoo, Renee Olsen, Liz Mckie, Ava Filipo, Courtney Stubbins