A trio of Tauranga basketballers say nothing beats playing professionally in New Zealand - describing a new national women's league as a "stepping stone" towards giving the sport the exposure it deserves.

The Bay of Plenty Times Weekend caught up with three players from Tauranga-based team Whai ahead of their first game on Saturday.

Whai - stingray in te reo Māori - will represent the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Waikato in the new women's National Basketball League (NBL).

Read the full story here...https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/basketball-new-nz-professional-league-a-long-time-coming-for-female-athletes/CL22EQDBCTKAWBA4N5WZUNBFK4/