For a Hawaii women’s basketball program that’s struggled of late, a chance to get away — and make history in the process — was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Laura Beeman’s Rainbow Wahine embark today on the first foreign tour in the program’s 45 years, to two countries that have directed plenty of talent to Manoa — New Zealand and Australia. Raylene Howard, Kylie (Page) Galloway, Ashleigh Karaitiana, Jade Abele, Tanya Smith and Tania (Brunton) Tupu are just some of the past standouts hailing from Down Under.
Over 10 days, UH will play four games against a combination of pro, semi-pro and amateur competition, one game each in four tour stops: Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia.
With their newcomers and all returnees already in the fold, the Wahine depart looking to make a statement and strengthen themselves heading into the 2018-19 season.
“It represents how serious I am about this program and taking us to another level,” said Beeman, the seventh-year coach who endured 12-18 seasons the past two years since winning the Big West in 2016. “I think it represents the seriousness of fans, getting behind us, supporting us and saying this isn’t just a pipe dream, this isn’t just something to let the girls go and have fun.
“But I think they understand the commitment I want to make to the university and the state, to say I’m tired of being just a mid-major. I don’t want to act like a mid-major, I don’t want to recruit like a mid-major. I don’t want to be ‘We’re not going on trips because mid-majors don’t do that.’ That’s not my goal. My goal is to try to advance where we are as a program, bring the right kids in here, and win at a high level.”
UH no longer has All-Big West guard Sarah Toeaina, who graduated No. 9 in career scoring at 1,204 points. What it has are three Australian tour guides: guards Amy Atwell and Courtney Middap, and post Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard.
While they will be tested on the court, the Wahine will partake in a host of activities away from basketball as well. The Auckland Sky Tower, a gondola tour in Christchurch, and walk-throughs of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are in the tour pamphlet.
“For me it’s just introducing the rest of the players to our culture,” Middap said. “Obviously with that, food, seeing different animals, places. I’m just really excited for them to experience it. But it’s nice to see them have fun, and get the opportunity to play oversees and experience this.”
For some, like guard Julissa Tago, it will be their first time traveling outside of the country.
“Just got my passport and I’m excited,” Tago said. “(My Aussie teammates) just told me the food’s a lot better, a lot healthier. I guess the lifestyle’s a little bit different, but being around them every day, I’ll be able to adjust pretty quickly.”
They will play by international rules, meaning a wider key and deeper 3-point line. The third game, against Diamond Valley of the second-tier pro league SEABL, could be the toughest of the bunch. UH, which has Tago, Kenna Woodfolk and Lahni Salanoa as its top returning scorers, engaged in 10 pre-tour practices to prepare itself.
“I think the game’s going to be more finesse … (rather) than teams being athletic,” Tago said. “I think it’s going to be a good change.”
UH said it will provide live streaming links for at least the first two games of the trip.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES / RAINBOW WAHINE BASKETBALL GO THE DISTANCE TOUR
New Zealand and Australia
Game 1, Auckland: Thursday, 5:30 p.m., UH vs. NZ Premier North WBC (at Auckland Grammar School)
Game 2, Christchurch: Sunday, 4:15 p.m., UH vs. NZ Premier South WBC (at Cowles Stadium)
Game 3, Melbourne: Aug. 15, 7 p.m., UH vs. Diamond Valley SEABL (at Parade College)
Game 4, Sydney: Aug. 18, 10:15 a.m., UH vs. ATC Academy (at Sutherland Basketball Stadium)
Times local to site
