In their inaugural NBL1 East season, the Penrith Panthers have signed WNBL veteran and Penrith local talent Tahlia Tupaea for the 2023 NBL1 season.
Making her WNBL debut at only 15 years old, Tupaea has played in the WNBL since 2012 with the Sydney Flames (Sydney Uni Flames and Sparks) and UC Capitals.
READ MORE ON PENRITH’S RISE TO THE NBL1 HERE
The 2017 WNBL champion and WNBA draft pick with the Minnesota Lynx was most recently with the UC Capitals, before being granted personal leave from the team.
This KJR Player of The Game nod goes to Tahlia Tupaea who contributed 11 points off the bench last night. ? pic.twitter.com/VBdVr9l73c
She was most recently the Most Valuable Player of the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa (New Zealand’s women’s Preeminent Development League). Where she averaged 18.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game.
As one of the WNBL's sharpshooters, where she averaged 44% from the arc throughout 21/22 WNBL season, coach Kristen Veal spoke highly of her unique skill set prior to this current WNBL season.
“There’s no point guard like her in Australia, with her size, her strength, her skillset, her shot and how she reads and see the game, so I’d like to see her take a bit more of a leadership role on and off the court this year,” Veal said.
“I think it’s her time to step into a little bit more responsibility, little bit more leadership and I think she’s ready for that and she wants it, which is the sign of an elite mindset and a talented basketball player”.
Having previously played for the Panthers in Waratah League (now NBL1 East), Tupaea now returns to her junior club as they make their NBL1 debut starting on March 11.
