She's the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year and this week Utah Womens basketball Forward Alissa Pili balled out against No.1 ranked South Carolina earning her Player of the Week honours with Pac-12 (4th career POTW), The Associated Press and ESPN. She scored a career high 37 against South Carolina earning high praise during the game from South Carolina's Coach and former WNBA great Dawn Staley (video below). {{36004}} Pili's 37 points are the most scored by a Pac-12 player this season. She recorded back to back 30 point performances and opened the week with 31 points in the win against St Joseph's, then added 7 rebounds and 3 assists against the Hawks. ESPN said of the young Samoan / native Alaskan player "The 6ft2 forward has been piling up points this season and is averaging 24.6 per game. {{36007}} Pili was a combined 27 of 40 from the field in those games (against St Josephs and South Carolina), and for the season is shooting 72.1% (93 of 129) and 55.6% overall from behind the arc (20 of 36). Especially with the loss of guard Gianna Kneepkens for the season to a foot injury, Pili is the rock for the Utes." Pili is currently ranked No.4 in points per game this season in the NCAA and 2nd in the nation in field goal percentage. She was recently ranked at no.9 on ESPN's WBB Top 25 players list and earned an honourable mention on the AP Preseason All-American list.   {{36008}} Recently the Committee Sports Group covered both Alissa and fellow Samoan Tehina Paopao (South Carolina Gamecocks Guard) prior to their Utah v South Carolina matchup. Both young women shared a pride in their heritage in a game where not many look like them. “[To be able to represent my culture] it means a lot and I carry it on my shoulders with pride,” Pili said. “The Polynesian culture and even the native culture, they're very prideful people they take pride in where they come from.” She also credits her Dad Billy for being her biggest influence in basketball. "Honestly if I had to choose a person who was my impact would be my Dad, he used to woop us and this man is 5ft7, like that guy is short but he used to woop me and my brother and my brother's 6ft4 ... all the time and so like just playing around with him ..."  Read the full interview here and watch the interview with the girls below - {{36009}} Also, fun fact:  Alissa's older brother Brandon Pili made his debut in the NFL at the beginning of the season with the Miami Dolphins. Another Pili to watch!   {{36010}}

Surf Girls Hawai’i follows the next generation of Native Hawaiian female surfers as they compete to earn a coveted spot on the professional surfing WSL Championship Tour. This 4-part docuseries now available to watch on Prime Video offers behind the scenes access to five of the sport’s most exciting young stars – Moana Jones Wong, Ewe Wong, Maluhia Kinimaka, Pua DeSoto, and Brianna Cope – as they train, navigate family responsibilities, and compete against the highest-ranking surfers in the world to get to the top of the podium. The stakes have never been higher as they battle intense waves, while feeling the added responsibility of representing their native Hawaiian heritage in the world of competitive surfing. It’s a coming-of-age story on the ocean, featuring the most beautiful beaches in the world during endless summer.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was always going to be about Matildas captain and superstar striker Sam Kerr coming home and leading her team towards glory. But in Australia’s final warmup match before the tournament it was 20-year old Mary Boio Fowler that stole the show by grabbing the winning goal off the bench. Fowler, born in Cairns to a Papua New Guinean mother and Irish father, sent a 50,000-plus crowd at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne into a frenzy last Friday night with her 66th minute goal. {{33688}} The strike was enough for a 1-0 victory over France that cemented the Matildas’ status among the teams that can feasibly win the whole tournament. Going that far will require more of the same from Mary Fowler and despite her youth, she has the maturity and experience to be up for the task. First picked for the Matildas at age 15, Fowler was immediately pegged as one of world football’s next stars thanks to her complete attacking skill set and uncanny ability with both feet. Mary features in the Adidas campaign below ...  {{33689}} She had trials with clubs in England, but her professional career began with a bang at Adelaide United in the 2019-20 Australian W-League season. A goal on début and two more in just six further games was enough for French heavyweights Montpellier to pay a transfer fee, still a relative rarity in women’s football, to bring the then 16-year-old to Division 1 Féminine. Fowler’s international career blossomed as well – after just four appearances for the Matildas in 2018 and 2019 she became a regular player (and goalscorer) for Australia in 2021. {{33694}} The goals (10 in 40 games for Montpellier, 10 in 37 for Australia to date) and general attacking dynamism and versatility caught the attention of English Women’s Super League giants Manchester City, who paid the 19th highest transfer fee for a woman player ever to secure her services in June 2022. Fowler was named in Australia’s squad for the previous World Cup held in France in 2019, but missed out due to a hamstring injury. Therefore she’ll be desperate to get onto the field in Australia’s opening game on Thursday night to be played in front of 80,000 fans in Sydney. {{33696}} The occasion will be even more special given the Matildas’ opponents are her father’s native Republic of Ireland. Fowler’s older brother Caoimhin and sister Ciara were both born in Ireland and have represented national youth teams, and the Football Association of Ireland tried to recruit Mary as well to no avail. {{33692}} “There were moments when I thought about it,” Fowler told FIFA+ in May. “But I felt very strongly connected to Australia because it's where I was born, I have my friends there, I grew up there. So Australia ended up being the obvious choice. But I do feel very connected to both my parents' backgrounds, and I don’t see myself as just an Australian. I see myself as Papuan and Irish too.” In April Fowler told The Guardian she had only been to Papua New Guinea once. “But it’s a place, and a culture, I’d really love to connect with. Setting up a football academy or a school in Papua New Guinea one day would be exciting.” {{33698}}

Keep it Fresh with us at the IBF Womens World Heavyweight title fight, right here in New Zealand! It was a historic fight with it being the first fight between two New Zealand-born boxers and Maori vs Pasifika for a World boxing title. Young professional Heavyweight boxers Alrie Meleisea and Lani Daniels go head to head for the World Heavyweight crown! - Keepin It Fresh brings you all the freshness happening in our Moana communities, from Siva Afi Festivals to Pacific Cabarets.

Professional Fastpitch Player & NFCA All-American, Fa Leilua, tells us how she became one of the most feared opponents on the softball diamond. Her powerful story shows us not only what makes a warrior, but what drives a warrior to compete, to grind and to win even thru great tragedy. Her ability to calm her mind, harness her passion, and use it to face her opponents with relentless power is why she became a true softball legend. Hear her story ...

Cook Islands international Mackenzie Wiki has made history as the first daughter of a former NRL star to play for the same club after she signed with the Raiders. Her father, legendary NRL, Kiwi International & ARL Hall of Famer, Ruben Wiki, started off his impressive career with Canberra in 1993 playing a total of 224 games in the Raiders green. {{32411}} “It feels surreal. I’m truly grateful to be a part of this amazing club,” Wiki said to International Rugby League  “It’s an honour to follow my Dad at the same club. His first club was Raiders, now my first club is Raiders. It’s just surreal.” Towards the end of last year Mackenzie toured the Raiders facility with her father Ruben proudly wearing her Dad’s Raiders number #153, after recently returning from representing the Cook Islands at the Rugby League World Cup in the UK. Interview with her via the Canberra Raiders in the video  above  {{32409}}

A young Polynesian woman (#13 in the video above) via way of Melbourne has helped her US college basketball team - Louisiana State University Womens Basketball - to win their first ever National basketball title in the March Madness final on the 2nd of April 2023. She was huge for LSU coming off the bench in their final game producing solid defence on Iowa's Caitlin Clark (who broke Sheryl Swoopes' record for most points in a NCAA Tournament all-time during the game), got Clark 2 fouls which benched her and then came up with a couple of big 3's!  {{32309}} Last-Tear Poa is of Cook Islands/Tahitian heritage and her given name pays homage to her great-grandmother on her Polynesian side. "I am named in her memory. It is a part of our culture" she said in an interview with The Advocate  Her grandparents Richard and Debbie share the story of her name in the video below. {{32310}} Poa started playing basketball when she was 10yrs old and after finding success in Australia decided to go to the US to see how she'd get on. Last year she played for Northwest Florida State College and led her team to a NJCAA championship during her freshman season. She then transferred to LSU for this season and earned a spot in the regular rotation of players. As of now, Last-Tear Poa could be the first Cook Islands/Tahitian woman to win a NCAA womens basketball championship. {{32314}} -  Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air 

Alissa Pili has been named the Player of the Year in the Pac-12 Women's Basketball All-Conference Honours & Annual Performance awards ahead of the Pac-12 Womens Basketball tournament this weekend at Mandalay Bay's Michelob ULTRA arena in Las Vegas. She is the first player playing for the Utah Utes to ever win the Pac-12 Player of the Year award and leads the league in both scoring and field goal percentage. She's tracking to become just the second NCAA women's basketball player since 1999-2000 to average 20 points, hit 60% from the floor and make at least 20 3-pointers in a single season.  She also scored in double figures in all but one game this season, including 16 20-point efforts.  {{32014}} We've been following the young, Samoan/Native Alaskan athlete since her high school days in Anchorage, Alaska where she was named in Max Prep Sports 'Top 20 High School athletes of the past two decades' alongside names like NBA star Lebron James & Olympian track athlete Allyson Felix.  Along the way Pili has picked up numerous awards and this will be the second time she's won a Pac 12 player of the year award - her first was in the 2019-20 season when she won Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, playing for USC. {{32012}} This season, Pili transferred to the Utah Utes and has been outstanding, helping lead them to their highest ranking ever in Utah womens basketball history. They finished the regular season at No.3 (nationwide) after they clinched the Pac-12 Title for the first time in program history beating Stanford.  (They're Pac-12 regular season co-champions with Stanford because they have the same record). After the tournament in Las Vegas, they'll head into the NCAA tournament which is the nationwide championship.   {{32010}} The second of nine children, family is "everything" to Pili.  In an interview with UtahUtes.com they describe how she grinned when she talked about her parents & how her brothers and sisters (four of each) who all play sports celebrate each other and push one another to be their best.   "I definitely value family more than anything," she said "I come from a powerful (Polynesian) background and that culture of love and family runs through me." Pili's father Billy said of her latest achievement - "We’re just happy for her, and that the work she’s put in is paying off.  I'm glad she’s found a team with the same drive which is to win, & coaches that give her freedom to do what she does lol but great team and couldn’t ask for a better group & coaches!" {{32018}} "Can’t say that we’re surprised, but very grateful, humbled, proud ... She held herself accountable and did what she needed to do this season!" her mother Heather added. It's been a big year for the Pili family.  Alissa's older brother Brandon finished out his college football year with USC and has declared for the 2023 NFL draft.  One to watch ... {{32016}} -  Heading into the Pac-12 tournament this weekend, here are another 5 players of Pacific Islands heritage to look out for:   ULA MOTUGA  Position:  Forward Plays for: Washington State Cougar's  From:  Logan City, Brisbane, Australia  {{32020}} -  SIRENA "PEANUT" TUITELE  Position: Forward  Plays For: California Golden Bears  From:  Chico, California {{32022}} -  TE HINA PAOPAO  Position: Guard Plays For: Oregon Ducks  From:  Oceanside, California {{32024}} -  TALANA LEPOLO  Position: Point Guard Plays For: Stanford  From:  Concord, California {{32026}} -  CHARLISSE LEGER-WALKER  Position: Guard Plays For: Washington State Cougar's  From:  Waikato, New Zealand  {{32029}} - Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air 

2022 was an enormous year for Auckland based referee Rochelle Tamarua. The Kuki Airani/Maori referee had the opportunity to go over and referee for the NRLW competition and then made history as one of two female officials in charge of a World Cup fixture at the Rugby League World Cup. She also refereed a number of the Womens games at the World Cup. This year she's been named to referee the Women's All Star game between the Maori & Indigenous Womens All Star teams. Outside of these fixtures she's also Auckland Rugby League's Referees Development Officer, fulfilling her role daily to promote, manage and ensure the referee system is thriving in Tāmaki Makaurau year-round. Get to know her in the video above - 

On the 15th December 2022, Queensland Reds & Wallaroos Rugby player Liz Patu announced her retirement from international test rugby.  She is the most capped wallaroos player in history. She talks with us here about achieving this historic milestone after being suspended 6 years ago for the biting incident, coming back from it and being proud to be able to achieve it as a Samoan. {{31410}} On announcing her retirement she said to media in Australia -  "My decision to retire has come from a variety of factors, but ultimately, I'd like to take time for myself and my mental health," Patu said. "I'm so grateful to the friends, family and coaches that have supported me throughout my rugby career. It means the world to me, as a player of Pacific Islander descent, to be able to finish my Wallaroos career as the most capped player and honour those who have gone before me. "I hope to continue my involvement with rugby through pursuing coaching opportunities and playing Super W." -  Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air 

In this episode of Behind The Jersey, NZ sports reporter Kirstie Stanway speaks in-depth to 100 metre sprinter Symone Tafuna’i. She shares the high’s and low’s of being in a highly competitive sport and the challenging journey she went on to get to where she is today. This is the first time she has shared her story. -  Find Help Here - findahelpline.com or Call/ Text 1737. You don't have to do this alone.

During the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup semi finals weekend, Black Ferns and New Zealand rugby star Seiuli Fiao'o Fa'amausili will be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame alongside five other legends of the game. She is the youngest of the six women being inducted this year and will make history as the first woman of Pacific heritage to be inducted. The World Rugby Hall of Fame recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the game of rugby throughout their careers while also demonstrating rugby’s character-building values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect. {{30539}} Fa'amausili will attend the private capping ceremony with the four pioneers who were the driving force behind the inaugural women's Rugby World Cup in Wales in 1991 - Deborah Griffin, Sue Dorrington, Alice Cooper & Mary Forsyth (all from England) while Kathy Flores from the USA will be inducted posthumously. They will then be presented to the Eden Park crowd between the two semi-finals games. Fa'amausili played in five Rugby World Cups for New Zealand, winning four of them - the last as captain at the 2017 edition in Ireland.   {{30541}} The former hooker was the most capped Black Ferns player (57 caps) until her record was passed recently by former team mate Kendra Cocksedge only this year. Ahead of the Hall of Fame ceremony, we asked her a few questions about her legendary career. - Looking back over your career what would you say was your most memorable game and why?  "Most memorable game would probably be my first game I started in a World Cup final and that would be the 2010 Rugby World Cup in England.   That game is really set in stone because it was my first World Cup final, a win on England and England had gone professional that year and so we really dug deep to perform and we were really stoked with that game and win".  {{30537}} Who would you say has been your toughest opponent?  "I would have to say my good friend Linda Itunu because when we play each other in club and even in trainings in the Black Ferns we were always looking for each other to put a hit on (laughs) and that's probably why we got better.   You don't fear each other you just want to go out there and smash each other and even though you do that on the field, we're good mates off it". After being in the Black Ferns team together since 2003, Fiao'o Faamausili and Linda Itunu share a few stories about each other.  They both retired together after the France test in 2018. {{30533}} You came to New Zealand as a 5yr old little girl from the village of Aleisā in Samoa.  What would you say to your 5 year old self now?  "Shuuucks!  Yeah, I'd tell her that I actually made it to the world stage and the Hall of Fame in rugby.   I loved sports when I was little but I never really chose rugby until later on in life but you know, who would have thought?  and it's full credit to my family especially my brothers and my Dad. Growing up and playing a male dominant sport, you hear a lot of people saying women shouldn't be playing rugby, rugbys not made for girls - you hear that but then when your own village and your own family that are close to you is nothing but supportive and you never hear from them that you shouldn't be playing - that's what matters.  It's those moments that kept me going and kept the drive alive for me to stay in this game and prove people wrong."  {{30535}} You're the first woman of Pacific heritage to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame - what does that mean to you as a Pasifika woman and what has the Pacific Island community support meant to you over the years?  "The support from the Pacific is massive you know and I'm proud of where I'm from and I always make sure that us Pacific Islanders we take pride in our name.   And you know for my surname Fa'amausili to be out there, I'm really proud.  I didn't know that I was the first Pacific female to be inducted and it's a proud moment but I know I'm definitely not going to be the last."  {{30532}}

Who is the most influential New Zealander in global sport? Her name is Sarai Bareman. She is Samoan/Dutch ... And she is head of women’s football for FIFA. All of it. In 211 countries, from South Sudan to the United States, from the biggest superstars to little girls in places where women have never played football until now, Sarai Bareman is the boss. John Campbell spent a fortnight with the unassuming Westie who’s now shaping the football world - and bringing the women’s World Cup to Aotearoa.

The history making Fijiana team (they're the first Fijian womens team to ever play in a Rugby World Cup) made history again when they played South Africa, recording their first win at a Rugby World Cup. Check out some of the highlights and special moments with family and fans, plus we get to talk to a few of the players & the Fijiana coach.

Dame Valerie Adams' candid & inspirational story of her global rise to the top of her sport will be released to the public when her feature length documentary 'Dame Valerie Adams:  More Than Gold' hits movie theatres around New Zealand. A five time Olympian and double Olympic gold medallist, Tongan/New Zealander Dame Valerie Adams is one of the world’s most celebrated athletes.  Her story is also the story of a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a survivor. Ahead of the release, she talks to us about her decision to open up about her personal life and journey as an athlete and mum, juggling motherhood & professional sport, island food faves and much more. -  Dame Valerie Adams:  More than Gold opens in theatres nationwide from Thursday 20th October.

In the week leading up to the opening of the 2021 Womens Rugby World Cup, young under 18yr old women from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga arrived into New Zealand to take part in games and coaching workshops as part of the Championing Oceania programme. Former Black Fern and current Games Development Manager for Womens Rugby at New Zealand Rugby, Vania Wolfgramm shares what the Championing Oceania Programme and Development Camp is all about and what she's excited to see come to fruition out of the partnership with the Pacific Islands The girls then had the opportunity to attend the opening match day at Eden Park before heading back to their home islands. -  Check out more about the Championing Oceania program from Doris Taufateau who was the ambassador to Tonga with the Trophy Tour in the video below ... {{30437}}

Get to know Sereima Leweniqila, the captain of the Fijiana team, the only Pacific Island nation to qualify for the Womens Rugby World Cup. Fijiana takes on the world ranked #1 team England this Saturday 8th Of October.

She’s the talented, energetic and infectiously upbeat face of women’s rugby, but Ruby Tui’s smile belies a secret pain. For the first time, Ruby talks publicly about the details of her incredibly tough childhood and the neglect that almost broke her. Her suffering led to a strength and leadership that has propelled Ruby to international success and, on the cusp of the Rugby World Cup, a brave and brutally honest Ruby speaks exclusively to SUNDAY.

Fijiana have gone from being attacked using stereotypes to being a real voice for women's rugby around the world through the sheer determination & years of fighting to play the sport they love!

Join us as we keep it Fresh with the USA Eagles and Australian Wallaroos! We meet the ladies at their Pacific 4 series as they chat to us about preparing for the Rugby World Cup and playing the sport they love. They also show us what they have in store on the field! - Keepin It Fresh brings you all the freshness happening in our Moana communities, from Siva Afi Festivals to Rugby Tournaments.

She plays Lock for the Wallaroos and NSW Warratahs, is a presenter on Stan Sports, co-hosts a radio show and juggles a full time job - Meet Sera Naiqama! We experience a day in her life as a high-performance athlete and she shares what it's been like for her growing up in Australia as a Fijian woman.

Coco Sports Talk catches up with Tongan/Maori rugby league player Katelyn Vaha'akolo. She shares how her NRLW experience was, the biggest lessons she took away from the Knights NRLW campaign, moving to Newcastle for the season and more. -  Watch the full episode of Coco Sports Talk below - {{28714}} -  Public Interest Journalism Funded by NZ on Air 

Silver Ferns defender Sulu Fitzpatrick opens up on how tough life lessons helped motivate her to push through and find her inner pride and happiness. -  Cover Photo Credit:  JAMIE WRIGHT | WOMAN

Robinhood Stars Centre/Wing Attack Mila Reuelu-Buchanan talks what it was like for her making the Silver Ferns squad, learning about her culture through sports plus shares some of what she does outside of netball including her hobbies. Mila's team the Robinhood Stars have had an amazing run leading up to their elimination final against the MG Mystics, winning 8 of their last 9 games which has also given them a home game advantage tonight. {{28642}} We wish Mila and the Robinhood Stars all the best in their ANZ Premiership finals run. - Watch the full episode of Coco Sports Talk below -  {{28643}} Public Interest Journalism made with the help of NZ on Air 

22 year old native Hawaiian surfer Moana Jones Wong made history over the weekend when she won the Billabong Pro Pipeline on the North Shore in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Not only was it the first ever full-length women's CT event at Pipe but Moana was a wildcard and in the final she beat 5 time world champion Carissa Moore. She then took over as number one in the World Surf League Championship Tour rankings. “Carissa is my favorite surfer,” she gushed. “She’s my hero, I can’t believe this. It’s insane. I always wanted to have a Final at Pipe with Carissa.” {{27613}} Asked how she knew how to pick the ride-able gems and make it through three barrels in Sunday’s large, disorganized surf — with the wave faces churned by rip currents and two different swells — she credited the late Derek Ho, Hawaii’s first world pro surfing champion, who mentored her in the storied, lethal break. “I would be out at Pipeline with Uncle Derek every day when it was bad and when it was good, and sometimes when it was bad we were the only two people,” she said. “He said to get good at Pipe you have to surf it in all conditions, including the wrong swell direction, too windy, too big,” Wong said, “So out there today, I knew exactly how it was going to be.” {{27617}} She also made history last year in another epic distinction becoming the first to receive a University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu's Hawaiian and Indigenous Health and Healing degree. As part of her graduation requirement, Jones Wong recently presented her senior project titled, “Surfing: More Than a Sport.” Surfing, she shared, healed her of many things. {{27615}} “I feel so connected to my culture, my ancestors, and the ocean when I am out there. Surfing gave me my identity. It empowered me. In my hardest times I found peace in the ocean.” Jones Wong’s senior project was about how surfing empowers Native Hawaiians to connect to their culture. It was a topic she was happy to write about and present, she said, because many people don’t talk about it and don’t realize how significant surfing is to Native Hawaiians. Check out the first episode of her her new Vlog  {{27611}}

Hawai’i is a place that is inextricably linked to and woven into surf culture. Historically, culturally, and within the sport itself, “surf” and “Hawai’i” are nearly synonymous terms, and there is an overwhelming sense of familiarity between the surf industry and the famed island chain…however, that familiarity tends to only scratch the surface of what surfing in Hawai’i is really all about—and all of the tradition, meaning, and stories that come with that. Host Mahina Florence comes from a legendary family of watermen and women - she takes us on this journey to learn a little bit more about one of surfing’s most iconic locations and some of the women behind it.  We'll start on the West Side with waterwoman Ha'a Keaulana and professional surfer Alessa Holloway (formerly Quizon). {{27565}} After that we'll make a stop at the famed beaches of the North Shore to meet up with Billabong WCT surfer Luana Silva and end at Waikīkī to learn more about surf school with Tammy Moniz. With identity closely linked to tradition, these women’s experiences and stories serve as powerful portrayals of the meaning that surfing can bring to one’s life, and how their relationship to surfing in Hawai’i specifically, has played big role in understanding who they are.

"We've had a really amazing type of person that's been in media for a long time but it's been the same type of person, so we go and find people from different places. I like to look at the team and say 'New Zealand watching this (your audience) can see themselves in my team' - Melodie Robinson   -  Rugby World Cup winning Black Fern and former sports broadcaster Melodie Robinson is used to going up against the odds.  But the self-confessed "tomboy" has not let the incessant challenges on the rugby field or in sports media stop her from breaking glass ceilings. Going from the solo Maori woman reporting on the rugby sidelines to now being one of the most influential women in sports broadcasting in Aotearoa. Robinson is removing barriers she once faced now that she's in a position of power as TVNZ's General Manager Sports & Events.  {{27504}} Making the industry more accessible for aspiring women to get into sports media like Symone Tafuna'i - one of Aotearoa's fastest women on the track.  Tafuna'i was an intern with Robinson but has another race in front of her as the new digital sports reporter for One News. -  Public Interest Journalism Fund Training Programme NZOA

Native Hawaiian surfer Carissa Moore capped off a stellar year winning her 5th World Surf League title in San Clemente, California. She became the first Hawaiian woman to win back to back world titles since 1981. {{26187}} She also becomes the first surfer to win Olympic and World Titles in the same year. This year she made four semifinal appearances in the regular season and won Gold at the inaugural competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Check out her battle against Brazil's Tatiana Weston-Webb in their final heat in the video below -  {{26185}}

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is the first time Surfing has been introduced as an Olympic Sport and it's only right that the only native Hawaiian surfer at the Games has won the Womens Gold medal. Ho'omaika'i to 28 year old Native Hawaiian Carissa Moore who won Gold at the first-ever women’s surfing event at the Olympics in Tokyo! {{24990}} The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported: “There was a dreamlike quality to the scene and Moore’s near-flawless surfing, which drew beauty out of chaos the way an artist does. The announcers spoke of how she and every competitor at Tsurigasaki Beach were living the dream expressed by the great Hawaiian waterman and Olympic gold-medal swimmer Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, of seeing surfing become an Olympic sport. One could imagine how he would feel to see a fellow surfer of Native Hawaiian ancestry win a gold medal in the inaugural Olympic heʻenalu event.” {{24992}} Carissa who chooses to compete under the State of Hawaii flag in World Surf League competitions, had to compete under the USA flag for the Olympics.  There were a group of Native Hawaiians who also requested of the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, for a Hawaiian national surfing team but the request wasn't heard. 

This afternoon 21 year old Malia Paseka will make history as the Kingdom of Tonga's first female athlete to compete in Taekwondo. She will take on the United Kingdom's Lauren Williams. Here she talks about her journey to the Olympics, being announced as Tongas flag bearer, the beautiful traditional attire she wore for the Opening Ceremony and more. -  Plus for those wondering about the coconut oil used when Tongans dress up in trad wear - we have an explanation for you in the video below: {{24906}}

Via RNZ  She was a key player for the Silver Ferns for nearly a decade, and now Linda Vagana wants to turn the key and unlock a love of reading in young Māori and Pasifika. The Auckland-born defender, who also played for and coached Samoa, has her parents to thank for her drive to give back. Her mum and dad were not regulars on the sidelines during her netball career - because they were always so busy helping others in need. Vagana said they were committed to serving their Pasifika community for as long as she can remember.  "Mum and Dad were very busy in their community work, the work that they were called to do. They would pop out to the odd game, not many, I just think they didn't come because I didn't really like them watching," she quipped. "I could play in front of crowds of people, but having my parents there it was just something different, I just put a lot of pressure on myself to play better, but at the end of the day they were kind of more comfortable being at home, busy running church and doing their work." {{24012}} Linda's mother was a seamstress and her father a teacher, before studying theology and becoming a Minister in West Auckland.  Together, they would help Samoan migrants assimilate to New Zealand society, getting them into work and homes, something that has stuck with their daughter and helped guide her both on and off the netball court.  "Like a lot of the first generation Pacific and Samoan families that came to New Zealand, they all came to work in the factories, the orchards, the meatworks, so we were brought to help build New Zealand and my life just revolved around mum and dad's work." Helping young Pasifika get the best start in life also runs in the family. "They started up a programme that looked at training young adults, giving them qualifications so that they can get into the workplace," Vagana recalled.  "It was a private training establishment and was mainly for Pasifika on the North Shore and I remember driving vans around crazy picking people up and dropping people off after training...and when I retired, I sort of carried on from some of the work that they were doing." {{24014}} Vagana was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2003 for services to netball and said watching her parents give back to their community inspired her to do the same. "I think watching and being a part of what they do became all I knew to do," she said during a brief break from her job as General Manager of Duffy Books in Homes. "Okay, great, I was very fortunate to be part of the Silver Ferns, but when I look back at the time I was working for mum and dad and helping with the programme, it was basic life skills, and I kind of stayed on that pathway [of helping young Pacific people]." Vagana is an Auckland-born Samoan but has a long history with the game in her ancestral home.  She captained Samoa at the 2003 World Cup in Jamaica where they recorded their best ever finish of sixth place, and coached the national team to eighth place at the 2007 tournament in New Zealand.  For as long as she can remember, Vagana has helped nurture players on the court, at community, club and international level, but it is in the classroom where she has spent the past 15 years helping to inspire a love of reading in homes across Aotearoa and the Pacific.   "If you look at all the problems in the world, if every young person is able to read and seize the power of what that can produce, and then pass it on to their children, it would probably solve most of the problems here in New Zealand and around the world," she said.  "We're failing our young people...why are they attending high school where a high percentage of them in their first year can not read? That's not right and so we have a responsibilty to see how we fix that." {{24015}} One in five Kiwi kids leave college unequipped for the workforce, and one in four adults have literacy difficulties in their everyday life, with those from the poorest communities worse off. Vagana has been the General Manager of Duffy Books in Homes for fifteen years, a programme developed and designed to help decile 1-4 schools to get books into kids' homes. More books in the hands and homes of young people will help them develop a lifelong love of reading, she said. "Duffy Books in Homes is really about inspiring young people to see the value of books and to see the power of what reading can do...our mantra here is: a child that can't read becomes an adult that can't communicate, and we want to do everything we can to change [those statistics]." "Maori and Pasifika children are highly representative in those statistics, and like anything, our demographics are always going to be our low income earners, those who are in low socio-economic areas are always going to be the hardest hit. "But the hope is to instill that love for reading because it just opens the world to success." {{24017}} Listen to the Champions of the Pacific podcast interview with Linda Vagana here 

"If you're still a kid like me, a teenager like me, there's no need to like, think about doing sports professionally. Just enjoy what you're doing now." At 15 years old, Olivia Selemaia is smashing weightlifting records across the board. In this episode of Generation Next, she talks about growing up with a solo mum, her love for the sport and not taking life too seriously as a teen.

Watch Genah Fabian in her PFL MMA 2021 Womens Lightweight fight (06 May) vs Laura Sanchez. Check out behind the scenes on Fight Night of her Pro Boxing debut here and hear from her boxing coaching team.

via RNZ Pacific's "Champions of the Pacific" Click here to listen to her interview on the Champions of the Pacific podcast. Cover image photo credit :  Photo: Â© Copyright Andrew Cornaga 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd . A year ago, Katelyn Vaha'akolo had never played rugby league. Now she's a Kiwi Fern international and eyeing a trip to the World Cup in the United Kingdom. The 20-year-old of Māori and Tongan heritage, started playing the sport to spend more time with her friends, but it wasn't long before her short career picked up pace, catching the eye of representative selectors.  The young winger's campaign for the Akarana Falcons in the inaugural NZRL National Women's Premiership, which included a stunning 80-metre solo try against Mid Central, saw her called up to the New Zealand squad. {{23326}} In her first game for the Kiwi Ferns against Fetū Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium in November last year, Vaha'akolo threw the last pass for retiring legend Honey Hireme-Smiler's ninth-minute try and scored a try of her own in the opening minute of the second half.  It's a memory she still can't quite comprehend.   "I've always loved sport, it's always been an outlet for me, but I didn't really think that I was capable of getting to that level until I was offered the opportunity," she said.  "I just feel so privileged. I'm around so many women with so much knowledge and so much experience and I got to play next to Honey... it's not everyday you get to do that."  And if you thought the name Vaha'akolo sounded familiar, it might be because her older brother Freedom is also making a name for himself, signing with the Highlanders on a short term contract. "I'm so proud of him, he's so deserving. He's always encouraged me and challenged me to go hard for my goals and he's definitely someone I look up to when it comes to my sport. "I just love [that] not only do I get to succeed in this, but so do my family...I didn't really talk about [playing] until it came about but I know they're proud of me. They've encouraged me and supported me through every single phase of my life and my sport so I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them." {{23328}} Vaha'akolo's had a taste of international rugby league and now also played against the world's best women's rugby union players, flying the Tongan flag for Moana Pasifika in their debut appearance at the Takiwhitu Tūturu rugby sevens in Wellington on the weekend.  Now she's aiming to compete in the Women's Rugby League World Cup in November this year.  "It's been challenging because it's really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I wasn't used to playing rugby league or contact sport but I've enjoyed being able to be in a space where I can improve and I can go to a higher level than I thought I was capable of." "[The RLWC] that's my goal, but no matter the result I've taken away so much already. I just want to keep growing and I just want to keep achieving whatever I can to get there." While Vaha'akolo is achieving dreams on the field she's also kicking goals off it, advocating for mental health and the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori. {{23330}} Having struggled with mental health throughout her high school years, she's using her social media platforms, known for her health and lifestyle videos, to encourage youth to believe in themselves. "I'm not a counsellor, I'm not qualified in anything when it comes to mental health and that, but I just like to be an ear. I want to talk about things that young people feel they can resonate with so that they don't feel alone." "I guess my main goal is to provide a space, especially for Polynesian youth, where there's no expectations, where they're not going to be judged, and a space where they don't feel like they have to act a certain way in order to be accepted." Vaha'akolo believes there needs to be more services or spaces where young Pasifika women feel safe to talk. "I don't think there's enough spaces that cater to how we've been brought up. I can't speak on behalf of everyone, but I think there needs to be more, I think we need to do better as a community and as people to provide spaces for young woman where they do feel safe and where they do feel like they can talk about anything. " "We're getting there, slowly, but I guess that's definitely something that I want in the future for our young people." Everyday she's reminded of her journey with mental health and how far she's come, inked through the tā moko across her chest; a symbol of healing and growing. {{23332}} "It basically explains my journey with finding myself and learning to be vulnerable, learning to love myself and what that journey looks like. It's a symbolism of healing, growing and of learning to not letting my insecurities define me or define what I'm capable of." Vaha'akolo said learning Te Reo Māori has helped with the healing process while inspiring her to learn more about both her Māori and Tongan culture.  "I wanted to learn Māori because before that I didn't really know anything about my culture and I didn't really understand my whakapapa," she admitted.  "My culture ultimately forms my identity, I take it everywhere with me and it's everything that makes me who I am...I definitely carry more of my Māori side because I'm more knowledgeable of it now, but I definitely want to be fluent in Tongan one day that's definitely one of my goals." After spending a year in the full-immersion course at Te Wananga Takiura, she's now taking up a teaching degree to keep the language alive.  {{23324}} "I just want to help revitalize Te Reo Māori because I think it's really important, especially in Aotearoa, I think it's important for me to know where I come from, because that's who I am and that's a part of what makes me me. "Even with sport when I go out and play, I'm wearing Māori on me, I'm wearing my Tongan culture on me because that's who I am...being able to see things from a completely different perspective has been a real privilege for me and if I could, I would honestly just never speak English again." The proud Māori-Tongan wahine might be new to the sport, but she's motivated and encouraged to see Polynesian women leading the way in contact sports. "I've never been able to express myself in this way like how I can with sport. I can let out all of my feelings whether they're happy, whether they're angry, whether I'm upset, whether I'm in a really good space, this for me is my outlet." "I've seen so many Polynesian woman come through this this level of sport and it's been encouraging to me and it's made me feel a lot more comfortable. It's made me want to encourage other Polynesians to play or to just give something a go in whatever they want to achieve."

A powerhouse on the field in both rugby and rugby league, Mele Hufanga is aiming to tackle the health challenges of Pasifika head-on. The 26-year-old was running bootcamp-style challenges alongside her brother Patrick Hufanga, founder of Beastmode Fitness.  Over 110 people signed up for the recent six-week challenge, all of them Pacific Islanders.  "It's basically about bettering yourself in life...it's a challenge for people who come from different forms, shapes and sizes, just for us to push them to have a better life, a healthy life," she said. {{23156}} Diabetes struck Pasifika at twice the rate of the general population, with a quarter of Pacific people in New Zealand on track to becoming Type-2 diabetics by 2040.   Just over 63 percent of Pacific adults and around 29 percent of Pacific children in New Zealand were classified obese.  The Tonga women's rugby league international said watching their mother struggle with diabetes had been the inspiration to helping others live a more active and healthier lifestyle. "Being a PI, Pasifika person, it's not fun at all knowing that your own [family] member has diabetes, especially [when] your mum is diagnosed with diabetes type two," she said. "That motivates me and my family to get out there and do something like this. The last thing we want is for other people to go through what we're going through." {{23158}} Her brother Patrick hoped these challenges would create awareness of the epidemic Pasifika were facing while helping prevent obesity and diabetes rates from growing.  "Our Polynesian people are going through obesity, diabetes, you know you walk into any doctors around here in South Auckland, and it's packed full of our people and it's mainly because of that," he said.  "I saw that [struggle] through my mother. She went through diabetes and all that, so it was time for me to start changing people's lives but that's my hope of it and that's the main cause of this training stuff, that's why it's very important for me and Mele to do this." Mele said it was about doing what was right for the next generation.  {{23160}} "Those are the people that we want to help more and push them to not become diabetic and for the next generation as well. Most of these people in this challenge are married, some of them don't have kids, some of them do have kids but at least they know that they don't want their kids or their next generation to go through what they're going through." Participants were expected to attend at least three training sessions per week, with the Hufanga siblings holding sessions six nights a week at Māngere's Centre Park.  Mele said people had joined for different reasons, but there was one success story which kept her going.  "I had this one girl who told me her and her husband were trying to have kids, but she couldn't because she needed to lose weight. She was almost at the line of being diabetic. After 10 weeks, she was told she wasn't on the mark of being diabetic and she fell pregnant as well." {{23166}} "One thing that my mum has taught me in life, the saying in Tongan is: 'ae kataki ke lahi', and that means even though times get hard, times get tough you know just give it your all. These challenges motivate me knowing the fact that I've got nothing in my hands but if I give my all to people, give my time and commitment to them and if I believe in them, anything could happen. "...that's why it's important for me to do this. I'm not a professional. I'm not a personal trainer, I'm not a nutritionist, but I'm helping in a way I know I can." The captain of Auckland's Marist Rugby Club had been involved in a number of campaigns, but she said her time in the Tongan camp highlighted the importance of culture.  She believed the fitness challenges had been a success because they were driven by Pasifika values.  {{23162}} "Usually when I go to camps they talk about culture and values but that doesn't really get me, but when I went into that camp I walked out with something and it got me knowing culture and values is so important. "Faith is important, family is important, love is important and kindness. Kindness is everything because what you say to people, some of the words can be with them forever. One thing I know about us PI people is that we know how to share, we know how to care for each other, we know how to be kind, and I guess if we're all in this together then it is what it is, we're just helping each other out." Patrick said he was overwhelmed with how many people were giving their bootcamps a go.  "To be honest, I had to think about it twice getting her [Mele] to jump on board, but...she's a bit more famous than me out on the sports world out here." "She's a really good speaker, especially a good trainer and she brings the vibe to everybody and she pushes people to the limits. That's the main thing about Mele, she can push you to your limits with no excuses at all." {{23164}} He was also stoked to see the South Auckland community come together to work on their health and fitness as a team.  "Me and Mele didn't expect everyone to come back on the second week, so I guess we're building the culture around not just training but getting people to vibe together. People are coming from Māngere, from Manurewa, all over South Auckland, so everybody's vibing together and just making new friends." In 2015 Mele Hufanga scored a record 16 tries for the Auckland Storm as they went on to win the New Zealand women's provincial rugby title. But the former Black Ferns squad member said there was one record she wanted more than anything.  "I just want to see improvement from everyone. I'm looking forward to proving them wrong because I know a lot of them are doubting themselves, and I want to see them realise they did this, they ran, they did the workouts and they're putting their health first. "I know that we all come from different walks in life, but you know that little help that we have put into this challenge to help others be better, it means a lot to us to witness people that have never trained in their lives, to rock up and try something new, get out of their comfort zone and I think that's that's what motivates us to do what we do."  {{23168}} * Cover photo:  Former Black Fern, Mele Hufanga  Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly

Up and coming Samoan Wrestler Cheree Crowley aka Dakota Kai is signed to WWE and performs on the NXT brand. On Sunday night she competed for the second time in the womens "Royal Rumble" with 30 of WWE's female wrestling stars. Just 2 years ago she tore her ACL at a NXT Live event - here she shares her journey to recovery and making her return almost a year later. {{20760}}

From suburban Lynfield to big time Berkeley, Penina Davidson isn’t your cookie cutter 21 year old Kiwi. Breaking the mould of New Zealand Women’s Basketball, her perseverance to overcome trials of mental illness and societal changes in her new home of California State, is definitely one for the history books. Standing at 6 ft 3, it was inevitable. The Missy Peregrym - ‘Stick it’ look alike, was born to be an athlete.  Like many basketball athletes, Penina grew up with a ball glued to her hand and knew no different. “Mum seems to think I went to a YMCA camp when I was 4 but my first memory was around age 8 - so we’ll stick with that number” {{8254}} Coming through the New Zealand development ranks for basketball was no foreign feat for her. Repping in all the highest teams of every school she attended, Penina took out top-scoring games at regional and national representative levels.  With her Dad as one of the best coaches in Auckland at the time, she was driven to strive for the best she could be in her basketball career. {{8274}} Sport threw a bit of a spanner in the works during her high school years at Rangitoto College, when people began to notice how well she could finesse her body around any sporting arena she was challenged with. Netball slipped in to consideration when she was offered an invitation to trial for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2011. After re-considering which code to persue, Penina was invited to another basketball camp - this time, overseas. {{8257}} “Netball’s really dope and I love New Zealand but it all changed in high school when Mum and Dad sent me to a Stanford camp in Cali with the words “go get seen”. As brief as that was, it was an experience that reminded me that I couldn’t give basketball up”. The camp itself was a hard hitting encounter for her. After missing the memo to take her own blankets, pillows and duvets, she was left shivering in the night with expectations to perform during the day. To add to the hype, she broke out in a rash of hives from being allergic to dogs. "I have a love/hate relationship with the sport, but that experience taught me a lot about how much I'd be willing to sacrifice for it"  After coming back and finishing school in 2012/13, it was time to make the big move. The first offer in, was from Stanford University - an offer she was unable to accept due to the scholarship criteria. Although it was an opportunity not taken, none of it mattered to her knowing that Stanford was one of her first. “It was pretty epic. I never dreamed about opportunities like that when I was back in New Zealand". {{8264}} With offers popping up left, right and centre, Penina was sure about one thing - she was staying in California. “There were two moments in my life where I remember thinking ‘I don’t care if this feels like a job, this is where I’m supposed to be’ - 1. Was when I got to play for the Tall Ferns where my first debut was at home in front of all my friends and family and 2. Was when I came to America and saw for myself that Basketball could actually take me places - I just fell in love with Cali” {{8269}} Penina accepted a 4 year basketball scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley. The beginning of a journey that would challenge her in ways she didn't see coming. Having to pick up her work ethic, be away from family situations, adjust to the culture shock of American life and perform physically all at the same time, really began to manifest and take a toll on her body.  It was in her junior year of college that she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.  "I had a really bad problem with self harm and I didn't really know what was going on. For practises I’d have to wear long sleeves and one day I turned up with open wounds and my sleeves started to bleed. That’s when a close mate of mine decided that enough was enough and admitted me to hospital.” After being in a psychology ward for 3 days, the doctors assessments confirmed that she was suffering from fluctuating thoughts. “I think I’m just grateful to now know that I’m aware of them. That was a big part of it, not being able to recognise myself with all of the medication I was on. Now I’m able to tell what triggers set me off, what calms me down and what to do. I’m still learning but it’s manageable.” {{8272}} With the pressures of having all aspects of her life take a turn at one time, it was important for her to come to a place where she knew she could sustain a healthier lifestyle for her own well-being. “When everything was turning to custard, I would climb up to my bed on the top bunk, that sat on the 8th floor of an 8 story building with a broken elevator and look out my window. I remember being able to see the whole city with the sun setting over it and thought “it’s going to be ok”. With a fresh perspective on life and a stronger head on her shoulders, the future is only looking brighter for Penina.  Due to the rules and regulations around being able to talk with professional teams about drafting during the season, Penina is focused on her final season with Berkeley, who recently gained their 20th win for the season as well as a solid 5th place for Conference. {{8279}} “A couple of weeks ago we had ‘Senior Night’ which means your last home game …We played Stanford and beat them for the first time on our home turf since 2009. To top it off, they played our anthem in Maori too. It was pretty beautiful. I had both of my parents standing side by side in the stands that I hadn’t seen in a while… my team mates were crying… I was crying - it was the best.” {{8283}} “My culture has taught me how to carry myself in love, to show respect to those around me and with all of that, it’s allowed me to learn how to navigate not only myself, but this big world we live in too.” . To read Penina's Senior Piece on her own personal journey, click here. Otherwise, check out her Cali Video Profile here. By Hanalei Temese

* NB this is an update to the below article.  Since we first ran the story in 2018/2019 Alissa has gone on to play College basketball for USC and is currently with the Utah Utes. Samoan/Alaskan native Alissa Pili has been named in Max Preps 'Top 20 High School athletes of the past two decades'. MaxPreps is celebrating 20 years as America's source for high school sports this month and In recognition of 20 years of high school sports coverage, they have been looking back at some of the greatest teams, stories and single-season teams of the past 20 years. They also shared a breakdown of the 20 greatest high school athletes since 2002 which included instantly recognisable names like NBA star Lebron James and Olympian track athlete Allyson Felix. {{29063}} Included in the list was Alissa Pili -  Alissa Pili, Dimond (Anchorage, Alaska) One of two females to win a pair of MaxPreps Athlete of the Year honors, Pili won 13 state championships during her four years at Dimond. She won four state titles in volleyball, two state championships in basketball, four shot put crowns, two discus titles and one state title in wrestling. A two-time MaxPreps basketball All-America selection, Pili holds the state Class 4A basketball scoring record with 2,614 career points and also broke the school record in shot put with a throw of 42 feet, 9.25 inches. She was also dominant in volleyball as a senior, recording 463 kills in 102 sets with 73 aces. Read the full article here  {{29061}} Earlier this year Alissa was also chosen to feature in Champion's 'Get it Girl' campaign featuring hip hop artist Saweetie and 11 other women collegiate athletes in honour of Womens History Month in March. As part of the campaign, each woman selected also receive a two-year Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) investment as official brand ambassadors and access to mentors, helping develop their professional career interests within the areas of sports, entertainment, media, and marketing. Check out the ad in the video above -  {{29485}} - Original article below -  MaxPreps Sports Female High School Athlete of the Year!  2018-19 – Alissa Pili, Dimond (Anchorage, AK): Volleyball, basketball, Track & Field  Meet the young Samoan / Alaskan native athlete who joins Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin as the only two-time winner of the MaxPreps Female High School Athlete of the Year! She joins an elite group of previous athletes of the year including 5 time Olympic Swimming gold medalist Missy Franklin, All American distance runner Jordan Hasay and current WNBA stars Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis! {{9763}} MaxPrep wrote:    13 Alaska state titles are impressive. Four volleyball titles. Two basketball championships. Four shot put crowns. Two discus medals. One wrestling victory. "Ever since I was little, I wanted to compete," she said. "I hate losing. I'd play against the boys, who were bigger, stronger and faster, and that only pushed me to go harder." A two-time MaxPreps basketball All-American, she also holds the state Class 4A basketball scoring record with 2,614 points. In this year's postseason run, Pili dropped 40 points in the 62-57 title win over Bartlett, while adding 22 and 18 in the 46-36 semifinal win over Soldotna, 33 and 19 in a 66-43 quarterfinal win over Ketchikan. Read the full article here {{9765}} Basketball is where she really excels and she was named by ESPN as one of 6 Basketball prospects who lit up the July recruiting trail in 2016 and then followed up with a full standalone feature on Alissa here ESPN said "If you are looking for a no-nonsense power player who simply gets the job done, may we suggest a trip to Alaska? We hear it's nice this time of year. Pili, a sophomore-to-be at Dimond (Anchorage) who played for Alaska Lady Hoops at the End of the Oregon Trail in early July, is versatile in addition to reliable. The mobile 6-foot power forward can defend numerous positions. On offense, she brings superb footwork to the paint and consistently delivers in traffic." {{9769}} We caught up with Alissa who is of Samoan descent and asked her the essentials. Age:           17 Height:       6ft' Position:   Pretty much all positions (lol) School:     Dimond High, Anchorage    Favourite Subject:  Math Goals:  I want to show everyone what I can do. … I want to make it big to help repay my family, especially my parents, for all their support they've given me over the years Family:  My parents are Billy & Heather Pili, I have 4 brothers - Brandon (who is currently playing defensive tackle at USC), Caden, Braden & Billy - and 2 sisters Kayla & Alyna.  The boys all play Football, Basketball & Wrestling except for Billy he just turned 1 & pretty sure he has no choice but to play the same as the older ones lol.  My sister Kayla is 11 and plays Volleyball & Basketball.  Alyna is 4 but she's not playing anything yet. We don't watch much TV we're too busy with sports and if it ain't my games it's my sibs so we're always on the go lol As far as training goes, I play all different sports like my sibs so I don't really focus on one sport. I have learned from my family to not take anything for granted especially when it comes to all the talent, strength and support I have. I know that no matter what my family will always be there for me and support me in whatever I do. {{9777}}   Favourite Poly Dish:   Samoan Sapasui (Chop Suey) Favourite Poly Artist:  Fiji  Favourite Poly Song:  Sosefina by Fiji   Highlights: Alissa has racked up a few awards along the way  * Pride of Alaska Award  * Alaska Girls Basketball Player of the Year  * MaxPrep All American Basketball Honors  * Alaska State champ in Shot put, Discus & Wrestling * Lady Lynx classic MVP * Cook Inlet Conference MVP  * End of Trail Tournament MVP (tournament in Oregon with 200+ teams attending including Nike sponsored teams) * First team All State  . Her father Billy says of her winning the MaxPrep High School Female Athlete of the Year award "To be honest we didn’t really know there was such an award lol, it hasn’t really sunk in that our daughter is the best female athlete across the whole U.S. - that’s a lot of girls to beat out and definitely well deserved for sure.  Alissa is just an all round very gifted athlete and all the glory is to God.  Her sibs are very proud of what her and her brother are doing and that’s setting the bar pretty high for them. She’s a very great role model also for the younger girls to look up to." {{11487}}   We'll be keeping an eye out on this Inspiring Islanders progress as her star continues to rise!    -   Photo Credit:  Fitzgerald Photography, ProspectNation.com & ESPN   Suggested Links:     Half Tongan Jabari Ali Parker selected for Milwaukee Bucks    Samoan NBA Player James Johnson signs with Miami Heat  

Detective Fiao’o Faamausili has been nominated for the World Rugby Womens player of the year for 2016! One of the Black Ferns’ most experienced and consistent players with 36 caps to her name since her debut against Australia in 2002, Fiao’o Fa’amausili, a dynamic hooker who leads by example and inspires those around her. A physical force in the pack, the 36-year-old is a three-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner who led New Zealand to a series win over Australia last month, scoring two tries in the opening 67-3 win at Eden Park. Samoan born, Fiao’o was first introduced to rugby in 1998 after playing a one off game during her last year at Aorere College in South Auckland. “Our school never had a rugby team, so I never had the chance to play.”  {{20467}} That one game was all it took to bring out her natural talent. Since then, she hasn’t looked back, with her can-do attitude and punishing training schedule, training six times a week, she achieved her goal of making the Black Ferns in 2002. Since then, she has represented New Zealand at the 2002 World Cup in Barcelona, Spain, the 2006 World Cup in Edmonton, Canada, and the 2010 World Cup in London, England and in 2015 was named as captain of the Black Ferns for the inaugural 2015 Women's Rugby Super Series held in Canada. {{20469}} She has previously played a stint of rugby in Newcastle, England, 2007-2008, which was something she had wanted to do before joining Police Fiao’o graduated from Police College in June 2010 and was posted to her home patch of South Auckland. She isn’t just slaying on the field, since joining the force she has been promoted to detective status with the Counties Manukau Police sector, the side of town where she formerly worked as a postie before joining the police force. “I always wanted to go back there, because I have always wanted to give back to the community I grew up in, and through my job as a police officer I feel I can achieve this.” To add to her achievements, in 2011 Fiao’o Faamausili, became the recipient of the New Zealand Police Association Police Sportsperson of the Year award.  “We have to lead by example and show the young ones that they can achieve their goals if they are prepared to put in the hard work. I think this is the best thing we can do for them.” {{20471}} To reinforce the message, Fiao’o speaks at school ceremonies and sports awards around South Auckland. She went back to Aorere College with fellow hooker All Black Keven Mealamu to present awards to high-achieving students in 2012. “It’s about pushing the young ones through, and being there for them, like other people were there for me when I was coming through,” she says. Fiao’o says her biggest influence on her rugby career was her Dad, he was my No.1 supporter. He passed away in 2001 and that made me push harder to become the rugby player I am today.  The World Rugby Awards awards kick off this Sunday 13 November in London. Fiao’o Faamausili is up against 2 other nominees, Gaelle Mignot from France and Sarah Hunter from England. Sources: World Rugby and NZ Police

Teuila Fotu-Moala of the Kiwi Ferns was announced the best player in the 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup, for her standout efforts in each of her games. She beat out fellow Kiwi Ferns team mate Honey Hireme & Jillaroos star Ali Brigginshaw to take the top award. The award was announced at the World Cup Grand Final Lunch and also happened to be the 24 year olds birthday!   She's just recently signed with the Brisbane Broncos womens team in the new NRLW comp and the NZRL have just named her as one of the 20 female marquee players for the new womens comp. Check out some of her big hits here ... {{9225}}