Krystal Leger-Walker

 

Krystal Leger-Walker played all 15 games for the Kāhu in the inaugural Tauihi Aotearoa last season and will be adding to that number when she suits up for the 2023 campaign.

 

The latest signing announced by the Kāhu, Leger-Walker averaged 4.2 assists (4th overall in the league), 2.4 steals (5th overall) and 8.9 points per game last season.

 

Leger-Walker is hoping the Kāhu can go one better than the 2022 season. After winning the regular season with a 10-2 record the team were beaten in the Grand final by Tokomanawa Queens.

 

“I’m excited that the core of last season’s team is coming back and I think we are all still fired up about last season and want to go one better.”

 

Following the 2022 Tauihi season Leger-Walker joined the Townsville Fire and enjoyed instant success with the Fire as they won the 2023 Australian WNBL championship.

 

“Hopefully I’ve brought over some of that championship winning luck!

 

“It was a great experience under coach Shannon Seabohm. Going up in training against Steph Reid and Lauren Nicholson, who are top tier Australian players, was great for my development.

 

“I feel like I went away, learnt a lot and I’m ready to apply that and see how that translates into the New Zealand Tauihi League.”

 

An advocate for the women’s game in New Zealand, Leger-Walker is keen to see how the second Tauihi season plays out.

 

“It is really awesome to see the likes of Chagas and Stella Beck coming back for Queens. It really shows that the imports and our Kiwi players enjoyed the League and can see we have a really good product which is really positive.

 

“I’m really excited to see how we grow again, hopefully our crowds grow, and we see it in the numbers and the excitement they generate.”

 

Following an outstanding junior career with Waikato and St Peter’s School Cambridge, Leger-Walker headed to Northern Colorado University.

 

In her three seasons with the Bears, she started 87 games, tallying 564 points and 378 assists. She helped guide the Bears to the Big Sky Tournament Conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.

 

She then transferred to Washington State University to link up with sister Charlisse and received All-Pac 12 Honourable mention in both seasons.

 

Leger-Walker holds the record for the most starts (139) in a collegiate career by a Kiwi – male or female. She finished her career with 142 appearances, 1,032 points and 621 assists.

 

The daughter of Kāhu assistant coach Leanne Walker, Krystal will link up with the club following her international commitments with the Tall Ferns. She played all 5 games on the Tall Ferns European tour averaging 6.4 points and 3.6 assists per game.