11 August 2023, Issue 1172
Babes and balls The Tauranga Coasters – our very own women’s representative squad – will compete in the D-League tournament in Auckland on August 16-19 with their kids cheering on the sidelines. Some will even need breastfeeding once the game is over. That’s because this year Tauranga City Basketball Association has invested heavily in the women’s side of
the game. “The development league has created space for women to compete,” says coach Chelseah Savage. “It’s a competitive league. It’s tough.” Chelsea admires players such as Laura Kuka, pictured with her two year-old son Lua Kuka, who juggle busy family lives with basketball training. Laura is one of three mums on the Coasters team.
“I’m so proud of our mothers in the team who commit to this,” says Chelseah. “Young kids get to see their mums playing which is so cool. I take my hat off to the women. “They get full credit.” Read more about how the culture of basketball is changing, to where having children isn’t a barrier, on page 6. Photo: John Borren.
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