Tahlia Tupaea is called into the Tall Ferns for the Asia Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Tall Ferns are entering a new era according to coach Guy Molloy.
With the "body blows" Covid dealt the national women's programme behind them, Molloy is optimistic he has selected a squad that can have success at this month's Asia Cup in Sydney and ultimately get the Tall Ferns to next year's Olympic Games.
Two uncapped players have been named in the 12-strong Tall Ferns squad for the Asia Cup, which is the first step in Olympic qualification, and only three players are back from the last time the team played at the tournament in 2021.
Former Central Pulse netballer Parris Mason and Australia-born Tahlia Tupaea have been called into the national basketball squad for the first time.
While some players made themselves unavailable for the last Asia Cup Penina Davidson, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Krystal Leger-Walker were part of the team that finished fifth and will be aiming to make the top four this time.
Charlisse Leger-Walker competing against Korea at the last FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Amman in 2021. Photo: © FIBA 2021
"I think that on top of those three players, bringing back the experience of Stella Beck is an important addition and then also the new addition to the squad of Tahlia Tupaea has given us just a different dimension of a player that we probably haven't had before," Molloy said
"So I think that when we've looked at the additions to the group, I think they've make us stronger from that last Asian Cup."
The inclusion of younger players like 21-year-old Tayla Dalton who was a standout during the team's recent tour of Europe bring "a real energy factor".
"We are obviously aware that the step up in speed playing internationally where we're having to defend a lot of really quick Asian countries and Asian players increased speed, increased athleticism was really important for us and so I think that Tayla is a good example of someone that can do a great job defensively very physically, but that keeps someone in front of her.
Tayla Dalton brings defensive physicality to the Tall Ferns. Photo: Supplied / BBNZ
"Same for Grace Hunter, who we think is just a very fast and exciting young athlete. But then even with our bigs there's the addition of some young players such as Parris and Esra [McGoldrick] and Ritorya [Tamilo] they are young, great wingspan, good height.
"This is a taller team than we had two years ago and a much better wingspan team and a better athletic team."
The Tall Ferns failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, a situation that Molloy describes as "unlucky".
"I felt like the Tall Ferns were really beginning that move up the world rankings by the end of 2019 and I thought we were very unlucky not to get through to the second stage of Olympic qualification, other results went against us. To me that was probably a pinnacle four years ago about our culture and style of play.
"The intervening four years have been really tough as we've had to ride through Covid and it's been a life change for many players because quite a number of our top players have chosen to have families have babies and or make other career decisions because I think that Covid was just one of those periods of people got a different perspective on life.
"So we certainly were at the bottom of the trough by the time the 2021 Asia Cup had rolled around but I'm very confident that we're on our way back up again.
"It's a re-establishment of the culture of the Tall Ferns the way that we want to be as a squad and representing New Zealand and then the second thing is just the re-emergence of the game style that we want to have which will be a lot closer to where we were in 2019 and probably far removed from where we were in 2021."
Tall Ferns for the Asia Cup:
Stella Beck, 56 caps
Tayla Dalton, 5 caps
Penina Davidson, 57 caps
Grace Hunter, 5 caps
Charlisse Leger-Walker, 36 caps
Krystal Leger-Walker, 23 caps
Parris Mason, 0 caps
Esra McGoldrick, 7 caps
Tera Reed, 11 caps
Ritorya Tamilo, 4 caps
Josie Trousdell, 36 caps
Tahlia Tupaea, 0 caps