CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – The Tall Ferns Cap is back! Esra McGoldrick has signed on with the ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai for another season of Tauihi basketball!
“We’re really excited that we could convince Esra to come back to Ōtautahi and be part of the project we’re building here,” said Head Coach Alex Stojkovic. “She’s a versatile player who can impact the game anywhere on the court. Her length, athleticism, and defensive presence cause problems for opponents, and the way she’s been shooting the ball over the last couple of seasons means we want to make sure she’s getting plenty of looks from three.”
Now entering her third consecutive season with the Pouākai, McGoldrick has proven to be one of Tauihi’s most impactful two-way stars. Last season she scored 11.8 points per game, shot 39% on three-pointers, and impressed with a league-leading 1.5 blocks per game.
“Esra’s versatility is a huge asset—she can play multiple positions, guard all over the floor, and stretch the defense with her shooting,” added Stojkovic. “We’ll look for her to be aggressive offensively and use her athleticism to help us play at the pace we want. She’ll also be a key voice and leader in the group.”
McGoldrick is looking forward to her fit in Stojkovic’s offence, describing the 2025 Pouākai as, “Fast, controlled, and fearless from deep. Perfect for me, I love playing with pace and letting it fly.”
Over the offseason, she returned to the Casey Cavaliers in the NBL1 South, being named the club’s MVP with averages of 14.2 points and 9.7 rebounds. She also starred for the Tall Ferns at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, recording 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Her 28-point outing against Japan marked the second-highest point tally ever by a Tall Fern at an Asia Cup.
“At the recent Asia Cup, Esra was arguably the most productive Tall Fern, showing she can excel at the international level,” said Stojkovic. “We believe she has the potential to become one of the great two-way players in New Zealand. Bringing her into this environment gives us a player who can contribute at both ends and continue to grow as a player and a leader—it’s a perfect fit for what we’re building.”
“It was awesome. I learned so much from both Casey and my time with the Tall Ferns,” McGoldrick said about her offseason. “The experience pushed me to grow as a player and really challenged me to take my game to the next level.”
With a year of growth and a motivated mindset, a Tauihi championship and sustained success is at the forefront of McGoldrick’s mind.
“Win the chip. Build a winning culture,” she said on her goals.
Pouākai season memberships are available now! Fly Fearless with us in 2025 as we chase our first-ever Tauihi championship! Individual game tickets are also available for purchase—join us for our season opener against the Southern Hoiho on September 26th.
2025 ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai: Charlotte Whittaker, Taylor Mikesell, McKenna Dale, Abigail Fogg, Marena Whittle, Morgan Yaeger, Leilani Correa, Kavanah Lene, Esra McGoldrick.
