October 24, 2025 • 7 mins
The Tokomanawa Queens return home in the Tauihi National Basketball League on Sunday, hosting the Southern Hoiho in Porirua.
The game follows the Queens' 103-79 defeat to the Mainland Pouakai on Friday night.
Leading Australian basketballer Kristy Wallace joined Adam Cooper to talk about how the team plans to bounce back on Sunday, and her time so far playing in New Zealand.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
That's the or sport breakfast. Well, let's talk the women's
Tehi National Basketball League, now the Wellington based team, to
talk a ban of a Queen's. Quite a heavy defeat
for them last night one hundred and three seventy nine
down in christ Church to the Mainland poe Chive. At
the Queen's are back home tomorrow looking to bounce back
at that Opena Hart Arena where they're hosting the Southern
hoy host. So let's set into the camp now following
(00:21):
last night's game and heading into this one at at
open Ah tomorrow. One of the star players in this
Queen's team is top Australian guard Christy Wallace, who's had
a lot of WNBA experience and it's playing a bit
of basketball for the Queen's here in Wellington at this
part of the year. Christy, good morning to you, thanks
for your time. Let's just look back on last night.
(00:41):
The final score one hundred and three seventy nine, so
quite the defeat and the Mainland team they were dominant
from the get go, weren't they.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah, no, they definitely came to play.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Their shooting percentage was good, had lots of players in
double figures. Yeah, so you know, next next time that
we get a chance to play them, we need to
make sure we got them a bit better. And yeah, yeah,
it's just kind of we're still breaking down what happened
in the game, but yeah, lots to improve from our end.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, I noticed early on their defense was was really strong.
They were getting their blocks and really containing you. Did
that almost take you by surprise? Their their intensity from
pretty much the opening whistle.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Not by surprise. We know they're tough and we know that,
we knew that coming in.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
So yeah, so for them to just go in there
and guard us, well, that's that's kind of their team.
So yeah, again, lots of us, lots lots of things
for us to learn from, and we'll be we'll be
better next time. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I know there was some travel disruptions, but on the
whole head, you traveled down there with a fair bit
of confidence, given you you'd had a couple of wins
and and the roster and the combinations looked to be
tracking pretty well.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I'm loving this this team. We have such good people
first and foremost, but the talent we have is incredible
to world class class players from each position.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I'm just having fun playing with this team.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Yeah, and it's a few of you Australians and there
that are linking up pretty well, getting some great combinations.
And is it nice to bring a bit of assy
flavor to the Queen's team with players you're probably fairly
familiar with.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
We've absolutely there's quite a few of us that have
played together over in Australia previously, so it's actually quite
nice to come together again and players a team.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
And I know you've just come from the Australian League
where you had some good success with Knocks a couple
of titles. What do you want to get out of
playing for the Queens? What what brings you down to
New Zealand for a bit more basketball to wrap up
the year.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah. I've been watching the New Zealandleague a couple of
years now and it's something that intrigued me.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
And it's something.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Specifically the Queens, the organization that they have and the
way they run it.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
The people that are involved.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It's just just something that you know, as i've aged,
it's something that I want to be a part of
and know I want to be a part of. Is
a good club that's run really well professionally and just
has good people and that's that's why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
And I'm sure you've noticed being around town and amongst
the basketball community here in Wellington, basketball, the female game
in particular as in a real growth phase at the moment.
Is that similar in Australia and other parts of the
worlds you've sort of been playing and recently.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
One hundred percent, I think it's worldwide, you know, yeah,
it kind of It's started with, you know, massive college
players in America, but I think worldwide it's trickling through
and it's really exciting time for women's basketball and I'm
just happy to be a part of that.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Given your experience, Christy, you've spent a fair bit of
time now in the w NBA across a couple of
different clubs. How do you best use that experience and
then pass it on to other players you're coming across
here in New Zealand or in Australia. How do you
usually go about that?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah, I've been lucky enough to have those experiences in
the States. Yeah, and just experience those crowds, the way
they play, the athleticism. But yeah, no, I think I
think it's really nice playing in this team specifically because
we have both, you know, older players, but we also
have younger players, so to get to play with the
(04:19):
older players, but also to you know, help lead and
show some of the younger players in this group.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
You know, I'm taking that opportunity when I can.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
All right, well, let's look a hit now, Christy, and
you're back home tomorrow at Openaha Arena and potty do
a Sunday afternoon against Southern Hoyho. And I guess last
night's game to score, particularly later on, was looking pretty
challenging to come back from. Did you instead of have
it in the back of your minds or we do
need to stay fresh for Sunday? Or was it all
guns blazing right up until the final whistle last night?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
We go to win every single game? Yeah, so we
we tried to do that.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
We're excited to bounce back quickly for Sunday's game and
and just give that a crack.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
From all your basketball experience, what is the key to
negotiating a tight turnarounds like this one you're in the
middle of.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Now, that's it recovery number one. But also you know,
you just need to be mentally prepared. It's going to
be it's going to be a battle with wehow they're
a tough team too, and we're hoping to get our
first win against them. So we know what it's up against,
what the stakes are, and what we're up against.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
So I think we're really excited to play another game
and get that under way.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
So the result last night now has you three wins
and two losses for the season, still second on the table,
but it's pretty congested, isn't it. Does that change things
significantly now as you chase the fi who are in
that top spot.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I think that's the kind of thing about the short season.
Each game counts so much.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So yeah, each each game we're going into win and
they're also important. So I think that was a bit
of a wake up call to.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
You know, you know, recoup and and regather our stuff
and come in Saturday, ready Sunday, ready to go.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Yeah, So it will be an important game tomorrow toed
open a heart arena and pottydoor. Christy tell our Wellington
listeners this morning why they should be heading along to
support you and the team tomorrow and what they'll experience
out there.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Oh guys, it's so special getting to play in front
of our Wellington home crowd last home game specifically was
just electric. And you know, we love our fans and
we love all the kids.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Bring the kids. It's so good for them, it's so
good for us.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And we hope to just see you there and supporting
our game and our product. And yeah, I hope to
say hello to you, and yeah, just really grateful to
our fans for coming.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Along to our games.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Awesome well Christy, great to chat. It's fantastic to have
someone of your caliber and experience as part of the
Queens set up playing a basketball here and Wellington at
this point of the year. So thanks for your time.
All the best as the season continues, including that game
at Potty do It tomorrow. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Thank you, Adam to see you then.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
For more from News.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Talk st B, listen live on air or online, and
keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
That's the or sport breakfast. Well, let's talk the women's
Tehi National Basketball League, now the Wellington based team, to
talk a ban of a Queen's. Quite a heavy defeat
for them last night one hundred and three seventy nine
down in christ Church to the Mainland poe Chive. At
the Queen's are back home tomorrow looking to bounce back
at that Opena Hart Arena where they're hosting the Southern
hoy host. So let's set into the camp now following
(00:21):
last night's game and heading into this one at at
open Ah tomorrow. One of the star players in this
Queen's team is top Australian guard Christy Wallace, who's had
a lot of WNBA experience and it's playing a bit
of basketball for the Queen's here in Wellington at this
part of the year. Christy, good morning to you, thanks
for your time. Let's just look back on last night.
(00:41):
The final score one hundred and three seventy nine, so
quite the defeat and the Mainland team they were dominant
from the get go, weren't they.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah, no, they definitely came to play.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Their shooting percentage was good, had lots of players in
double figures. Yeah, so you know, next next time that
we get a chance to play them, we need to
make sure we got them a bit better. And yeah, yeah,
it's just kind of we're still breaking down what happened
in the game, but yeah, lots to improve from our end.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, I noticed early on their defense was was really strong.
They were getting their blocks and really containing you. Did
that almost take you by surprise? Their their intensity from
pretty much the opening whistle.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Not by surprise. We know they're tough and we know that,
we knew that coming in.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
So yeah, so for them to just go in there
and guard us, well, that's that's kind of their team.
So yeah, again, lots of us, lots lots of things
for us to learn from, and we'll be we'll be
better next time. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I know there was some travel disruptions, but on the
whole head, you traveled down there with a fair bit
of confidence, given you you'd had a couple of wins
and and the roster and the combinations looked to be
tracking pretty well.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I'm loving this this team. We have such good people
first and foremost, but the talent we have is incredible
to world class class players from each position.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I'm just having fun playing with this team.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Yeah, and it's a few of you Australians and there
that are linking up pretty well, getting some great combinations.
And is it nice to bring a bit of assy
flavor to the Queen's team with players you're probably fairly
familiar with.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
We've absolutely there's quite a few of us that have
played together over in Australia previously, so it's actually quite
nice to come together again and players a team.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
And I know you've just come from the Australian League
where you had some good success with Knocks a couple
of titles. What do you want to get out of
playing for the Queens? What what brings you down to
New Zealand for a bit more basketball to wrap up
the year.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah. I've been watching the New Zealandleague a couple of
years now and it's something that intrigued me.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
And it's something.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Specifically the Queens, the organization that they have and the
way they run it.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
The people that are involved.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It's just just something that you know, as i've aged,
it's something that I want to be a part of
and know I want to be a part of. Is
a good club that's run really well professionally and just
has good people and that's that's why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
And I'm sure you've noticed being around town and amongst
the basketball community here in Wellington, basketball, the female game
in particular as in a real growth phase at the moment.
Is that similar in Australia and other parts of the
worlds you've sort of been playing and recently.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
One hundred percent, I think it's worldwide, you know, yeah,
it kind of It's started with, you know, massive college
players in America, but I think worldwide it's trickling through
and it's really exciting time for women's basketball and I'm
just happy to be a part of that.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Given your experience, Christy, you've spent a fair bit of
time now in the w NBA across a couple of
different clubs. How do you best use that experience and
then pass it on to other players you're coming across
here in New Zealand or in Australia. How do you
usually go about that?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah, I've been lucky enough to have those experiences in
the States. Yeah, and just experience those crowds, the way
they play, the athleticism. But yeah, no, I think I
think it's really nice playing in this team specifically because
we have both, you know, older players, but we also
have younger players, so to get to play with the
(04:19):
older players, but also to you know, help lead and
show some of the younger players in this group.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
You know, I'm taking that opportunity when I can.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
All right, well, let's look a hit now, Christy, and
you're back home tomorrow at Openaha Arena and potty do
a Sunday afternoon against Southern Hoyho. And I guess last
night's game to score, particularly later on, was looking pretty
challenging to come back from. Did you instead of have
it in the back of your minds or we do
need to stay fresh for Sunday? Or was it all
guns blazing right up until the final whistle last night?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
We go to win every single game? Yeah, so we
we tried to do that.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
We're excited to bounce back quickly for Sunday's game and
and just give that a crack.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
From all your basketball experience, what is the key to
negotiating a tight turnarounds like this one you're in the
middle of.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Now, that's it recovery number one. But also you know,
you just need to be mentally prepared. It's going to
be it's going to be a battle with wehow they're
a tough team too, and we're hoping to get our
first win against them. So we know what it's up against,
what the stakes are, and what we're up against.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
So I think we're really excited to play another game
and get that under way.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
So the result last night now has you three wins
and two losses for the season, still second on the table,
but it's pretty congested, isn't it. Does that change things
significantly now as you chase the fi who are in
that top spot.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I think that's the kind of thing about the short season.
Each game counts so much.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So yeah, each each game we're going into win and
they're also important. So I think that was a bit
of a wake up call to.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
You know, you know, recoup and and regather our stuff
and come in Saturday, ready Sunday, ready to go.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Yeah, So it will be an important game tomorrow toed
open a heart arena and pottydoor. Christy tell our Wellington
listeners this morning why they should be heading along to
support you and the team tomorrow and what they'll experience
out there.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Oh guys, it's so special getting to play in front
of our Wellington home crowd last home game specifically was
just electric. And you know, we love our fans and
we love all the kids.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Bring the kids. It's so good for them, it's so
good for us.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And we hope to just see you there and supporting
our game and our product. And yeah, I hope to
say hello to you, and yeah, just really grateful to
our fans for coming.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Along to our games.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Awesome well Christy, great to chat. It's fantastic to have
someone of your caliber and experience as part of the
Queens set up playing a basketball here and Wellington at
this point of the year. So thanks for your time.
All the best as the season continues, including that game
at Potty do It tomorrow. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Thank you, Adam to see you then.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
For more from News.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Talk st B, listen live on air or online, and
keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.