WNBA Basketball star Jordan Horston on NZ playing stint at Tokomanawa Queens

Seattle Storm WNBA guard Jordan Horston headlines the Wellington-based Tokomanawa Queens side in this year's Tauihi National Basketball League.

Horston has averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds for the table-topping Queens so far this season.

Jordan Horston joined Adam Cooper to talk about the season so far, and preview the Queens' upcoming home game against the Southern Hoiho at Wellington's TSB Arena on Sunday afternoon.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're building up to the Toka man of A Queen's

(00:02):
first game at TSB Arena on Wellington's waterfront for the
toe Hey League season. It's great to have Jordan Horston
of course part of Seattle and the w n b
A as part of the Queens this year. Jordan, thanks
so much for joining us. Let's firstly look back on
your most recent win. A pretty exciting game Thursday night
and all things come from behind when so the team

(00:23):
would be pretty happy with that?

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, Kayle was
a great team. We lost to them first time, so
happy that we was able to bounce back. And you
have growth throughout the season, so can be proud of
your team. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Great, you were down quite a bit at quarter of time.
What changed then to get yourselves back into the game?
Do you think?

Speaker 2 (00:42):
I feel like it was our defense. We got more aggressive,
we got a passion lanes. We started talking. We went
in the halftime saying that you know, we was a
little doll on defense and we wanted to come out
and you know, apply to pressure and I feel like
that that's would let us offense and transition. That's we
start up for that.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
And yourself, Jordan, another great showing on the stats twenty
eight points, thirteen rebounds. You're averaging about twenty five this
season so far. Yeah, enjoying your season so far down
here in New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yes, I am. Everybody's been great, very very warming and welcoming.
I can't complain about anything, honestly.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah, great to hear. Tell us what a player like you,
with your experience obviously part of the Seattle Storm Nights
overall Peck and the w NBA Draft in twenty twenty three,
what do you want to get out of a playing
stint in a league like this one you're in right
now in New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, I like the excuse me, I like the season because,
like usually when players grew overseas, they are over there
until the WNBA season starts, and me coming off surgery
last year, I felt like, you know, I want to
do is best for my body and then also still
be able to play. Coming over here, I just wanted

(01:53):
to just you know, focus on things that you know,
I probably couldn't do in the WNBA season, like work
on moves that I wasn't comfortable doing in the NBA season.
I'm just building my confidence and so that when I
go into the next season, I'm more comfortable doing my moves.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, wonderful have you? You know, in terms of the
team around you, there's some very experienced New Zealand players.
Are they sort of complementing you being able to work
on those things you talk about wanting to get out.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
Of Oh yeah, everybody's been great. Everybody's been great. I mean,
you know, we've got some barers too. I mean, the
league is the league is competitive, everybody wants to win.
Shows a lot of great So I'm just happy to
be a part of it.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
And I'm sure there's a lot of young basketballers from
here in New Zealand that have looked at your journey
and they're probably asking you for some tips, some information.
Is that Is that happening?

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah? Yeah, yeah, I mean you know, I'm always I'm
always open to, you know, give advice because I know
me growing up, I was a little kid in the stands,
you know, looking up to somebody. So whenever it's my turn,
I always say say, my dues, what do.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
You what did you expect about coming to Wellington, coming
to New Zealand beforehand? And how is it sort of
being compared to what you might have expected now that
you've been here for a year. For a couple of months.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, I didn't really expect anything. I came in here
in the expectations came in here just you know, experiencing
new culture, meeting new people, travel the world. So I
really didn't have any expectations, to be honest. But you know,
it's exceeding everything now at a time. So, I mean
it's beautiful. People are amazing. I feel safe, I feel
at home. Well, he takes very great care of us,

(03:22):
so I can't play about anything.

Speaker 1 (03:24):
That's great to hear. All right, and you meet you.
It's been a very competitive league so far. Obviously the
Queens are at the top. But this is going to
be another important game Sunday afternoon at TSB Rainer. I'm
sure you and the tame are excited to be playing
in the sort of biggest stadium after a few home
runs and party does. What are you expecting on Sunday
against the Southern hoy Ho.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm at large fans. We're just happy to not be
on the road, being able to play in front of
our fans, being able to play in the gym that
we're comfortable with just excited to see the fans come
out support us and get away.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
What's key for the team now to stay at the
top of the competition.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
We just got to continue doing what we were doing
this bill on and everything that we made misticks on,
continue leading with our defense, staying together, staying tight and
not taking any plays off and just being locked in
every play.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
Wonderful Jordan, And tell the people listening in Wellington just
how much it means for the team having the support
and then hopefully for a big crowd on some of
that testp arena. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
I mean we always say the support that the fans
are our six men and we see you off with them,
So I mean we would love for everybody to come
out come support us, help us get the next one,
because me and they play a huge part and what
we do.

Speaker 1 (04:39):
Wonderful Jordan, Well, it's great to have you in Wellington
as part of this toy He League. Everyone I know
is enjoying saying the success that that you've had and
what you've brought to the competition, So we really appreciate that.
Thanks to your time and all the best. Sunday, thank
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