In an inspiring episode we talk with up-and-coming New Zealand talent Zoe Richards.

Returning last year to her hometown of Dunedin on the South Island, while juggling work as a teacher’s aide Zoe became part of NZ basketball history, playing in the inaugural Tauihi Aotearoa Basketball League with the Southern Hoiho - the first pay parity professional women’s hoops league in New Zealand.

We travel back to her US college years at two small college towns, culminating in a championship in her senior year at Eckerd College (Flo) after bitter disappointment the year before. We also hear about a pivotal conversation with a mentor in her senior high school years that literally defined her approach - hard work. As a self-confessed ‘low key’ player, Zoe was determined that hard work would help get her noticed and it paid off.

Her journey to the National Team, the Tall Ferns, was an unconventional one. She shares her story of the road less travelled, an inspirational one of hard work, passion, and perseverance. From the delightful surprise when she got that unexpected phone call that led her to representing her country for the first time to taking the court with her childhood heroes. Her message to young girls is a timeless one - passion and hard work can lead to reaching your wildest dreams.

Currently playing in Luxembourg with Amis du Basket Contern, Zoe has relished the role of an impact player, and has gained confidence in her game. Keen to see where the road leads her, she’d love to return to Australia, where she played in the NBL1 with the Rockingham Flames and maybe suit up for the WNBL one day as her role models have before her.

We want to thank New Zealand hoops expert Linden Moore for taking the mic on this episode and sharing our journey at Shooting The Breeze in elevating women’s hoops from around the world.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to like, share and leave a review so we can get more Hoops content to you!

Join us on our socials - Twitter: @TheBreezePod and IG: @shootingthebreezepod