WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Former BYU women’s basketball player Kaylee Smiler has been selected to compete for the New Zealand Tall Ferns in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Mexico on August 19-25, Basketball New Zealand announced on Friday.
“Kaylee is the type of player that every coach wants to have on their team,” said BYU head coach Amber Whiting. “She is a person who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed. I am super proud of Kaylee and her incredible work ethic, which has earned her this selection to represent her country.”
Smiler is part of the extended 18-player roster that will attend the Tall Ferns selection camp from August 2-12 where the pool will be cut to a 12-player final roster before the pre-qualifying tournament. As part of the camp, the 2degrees Tall Ferns squad will face the WPBA Stars team in two exhibitions on August 8 and 9.
New Zealand was selected to group B and will face Montenegro on Aug. 19, the host team Mexico on Aug. 21 and Mozambique on Aug. 22 to conclude group play. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals on Aug. 24 before the final on Aug. 25.
The roster for the 2degrees Tall Ferns includes eight athletes who are currently playing basketball collegiately in the United States, seven who play in the NBL1, two players from the U23 3x3 Nations League in Kuala Lumpur and two from the U17 Women’s World Cup teams.
More information about the pre-qualifying tournament can be found on the FIBA website. For further information regarding the New Zealand Tall Ferns, visit the Basketball New Zealand website.
