Charlisse Leger-Walker and Pasifika Stars Mark Historic Era for Women’s Basketball

A new chapter in international basketball history has been written as Māori and Pasifika athletes reach unprecedented heights in the premier American women’s league. ABC Pacific reports that for the first time in WNBA history, there are now three Pacific Islander players representing the region on the global stage simultaneously. Leading this historic surge is Charlisse Leger-Walker, who has of Māori, Fijian, Samoan, and Tongan heritage. Leger-Walker made history as the first Māori and New Zealand woman to be drafted into the WNBA. She was selected as the 18th pick by the Connecticut Sun in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Her arrival in the league marks a significant milestone for Indigenous representation in Aotearoa New Zealand sports. Leger-Walker is joined in this elite cohort by Alissa Pili and Te-Hina Paopao. Pili, who recently re-signed with the Los Angeles Sparks, is the first Native Alaskan (Inupiaq) woman to be drafted into the league. Meanwhile, Paopao, who has Samoan and Tokelauan heritage, made history as the first Tokelauan athlete in the WNBA following her selection by the Atlanta Dream in 2025. This modern wave of talent builds on the foundations laid by Naomi Tagaleo'o (née Mulitauaopele), who was the first Samoan and Pacific Islander to play in the WNBA after being drafted in 2000. Tagaleo'o has since continued her impact off the court, co-founding the Education with Purpose Foundation to support Pacific Islander youth. As the league enters its 2026 season, the presence of these history-making women serves as an inspiration for Indigenous tamariki across the Pacific. Their achievements demonstrate the growing pathway for Pacific talent to transition from regional excellence to the highest levels of professional competition.