Morgan Yaeger targets Tauihi title despite previous medical advice
Friday 25 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated 
Pouākai point guard Morgan Yaeger is pursuing a championship in the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa League. Despite receiving medical advice to quit the sport, she has continued her career and is competing in Christchurch for the 2026 season.
Key facts
3 facts
- Morgan Yaeger is a 28-year-old point guard for Pouākai
- Yaeger suffered a chronic lower back injury during her second year at the University of Oregon
- The 2026 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa League season begins on September 25
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Pouākai point guard Morgan Yaeger has arrived in Christchurch for the 2026 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa League season. This marks her second season playing for the Mainland side and her third season playing in New Zealand.
The 28-year-old Adelaide native previously faced medical advice to retire due to a chronic lower back injury. During her second year at the University of Oregon, she experienced a back injury that required cortisone injections and physical therapy.
Medical professionals suggested she had reached the limit of what she could achieve with the injury and recommended she quit the sport. Yaeger decided to continue, stating, "Quitting wasn’t going to help. If I quit, then I’m definitely not going to play again".
Yaeger's basketball background includes playing for the Australian U16, U17, and U19 national teams. She played four years of college basketball in the United States for the University of Oregon.
Compiled from reports by Newsroom and NZ Herald.