Bailey Flavell: from family legacy to Women’s Asia Cup debut

Bailey Flavell, the 18-year-old daughter of New Zealand basketball legend Judd Flavell, is making her debut with the senior Tall Ferns at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025. As the second-youngest player on the roster, her entry follows a natural progression given her deep family roots in the sport; her father was a key player for the Tall Blacks, reaching the 2022 FIBA World Cup semi-finals.

Flavell has steadily progressed through New Zealand's youth ranks, competing at U15 to U17 levels from 2022 to 2024. She recently gained senior experience at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Mexico, averaging 5.5 points per game. The Asia Cup represents a new challenge and opportunity to prove herself against Asia's best teams.

Expressing gratitude for her selection, Flavell highlighted the supportive team environment and the guidance from experienced leaders like Esra McGoldrick and Tahlia Tupaea. She credits these veterans for their on and off-court knowledge and advice, which she actively incorporates to aid her development.

Her basketball foundation stems from her family, where everyone played. Her father, Judd Flavell (now head coach of the Tall Blacks), concluded his playing career around her birth and began coaching, providing significant coaching and advice throughout her journey. While acknowledging this head start, Bailey is dedicated to forging her own path.

On the court, Flavell aims to bring maximum effort on both offense and defense. She specifically focuses on disrupting opponents defensively and maintaining high energy levels consistently. With her blend of family legacy, youthful promise, and hard work, she is positioned as a rising star for New Zealand as the Tall Ferns compete in the tournament.