BASKETBALL STARS BABY JOY 'WE'RE CHASING OUR DREAMS'

After a romantic proposal, sporty couple Tyrell and Kalani are expecting a girl

- Leena Tailor

Smashing open a pineapple with a samurai sword to unveil an explosion of pink confetti made for one unique, unforgettable gender reveal for Kiwi athletes Tyrell Harrison and Kalani Purcell. Yet it's surprising the couple didn't opt to slice open a basketball while brainstorming creative ways to mark the moment!

Basketball stars both in Aotearoa and Australia, the expectant parents admit the sport rules their lives, which is why Kalani was shocked to learn she was pregnant.

The youngest of seven basketball-playing siblings (including ex-Tall Ferns Charmian Mellars and Natalie Taylor), she dreamed of a professional basketball career from age six and made the Tall Ferns by 18.

Tyrell, 23, meanwhile was born into a rugby-mad home in Brisbane. But he discovered basketball at 15, began development training with the Brisbane Bullets in high school and has played for the team since. He recently joined New Zealand's Tall Blacks as the couple prepare to welcome their daughter here during the Australian off-season.

It was during an off-season that the two met through an awkward set-up. "Mutual friends invited us to a house party, but it ended up just four of us," chuckles Kalani, 28.

Having just broken off an engagement, Kalani's biggest lesson was not to rush relationships, so it was another year before she and Tyrell started hanging out. Bonding over food, movies and basketball, they became besties before officially starting to date in 2019.