Basketball New Zealand

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NZ Tall Fern Donna Loffhagen (Photosport)

Geoff Longley, Chirstchurch Press

Donna Wilkins is waiting until the naming of the coach of the Christchurch-based team in the Australian women’s basketball league before deciding her playing future.

Wilkins (formerly Loffhagen) confirmed yesterday she had been offered a contract by the yet-to-named franchise.

But she was holding back from saying anything until she knew who the coach was, she said.

An announcement on that position is expected next week from Basketball New Zealand which is making the appointment.

Two assistant coaches appointed by Canterbury Basketball will also be named.

Tall Ferns coach Mike McHugh, who is involved in the appointment process, indicated earlier it was likely to be a coach with experience in the Australian league and not a local.

Wilkins said her immediate priority and commitment was to the Southern Sting in the national netball league and that had prevented her being available for the Tall Ferns basketball team to visit Japan this month.

She said she was saying nothing about her possible playing future in either basketball or netball as some comments in the past had been misinterpreted.

In recent weeks Wilkins was linked with a possible return to the Silver Ferns netball team and its world championship campaign in November.

She said from her Southland home she did not know where that rumour had started.

“That’s why I am saying as little as possible at present until I know what I am doing.”

If Wilkins signs to play for the Christchurch team it seems unlikely she could reappear for the Silver Ferns as the women’s basketball league starts in October.

Wilkins watched the Silver Ferns suffer a surprise loss to England yesterday and said she expected them to bounce back against Australia.

“They (Silver Ferns) didn’t have a good start but I’m sure they can rectify that.”

Meanwhile it is expected that the first group of players who are signing for the new basketball franchise will be named next week.

They are likely to be national representatives from the Auckland region.