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Regional | Basketball

Maia Wilson named Junior Māori Sportswoman for 2016

Maia Wilson has won the Te Tamāhine-a-Papatūānuku award for Junior Māori Sportswoman of the Year at this year’s Māori Sports Awards.

Wilson went up against Waka Ama paddler Akayshia Williams and rugby sevens player Gayle Broughton.

The 18-year-old has represented New Zealand in both netball and basketball. More recently she was named in the Silver Ferns squad for 2017.

Wilson put basketball on hold last year so that she could focus solely on netball. The switch was beneficial for her, and she became the youngest player to trial for the Silver Ferns side.

She was noticed at an international level and signed a one-year contract to represent the Pulse in the ANZ Championships for 2016.

Wilson was a finalist in the Junior Māori Sportswoman of the Year category last year but was beaten by New Zealand Sevens player Stacey Waaka.