GOLD COAST (Australia) – The Oceania basketball community mourns the passing of Natsumi Wainebengo, a woman whose leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment transformed lives far beyond the court.
Her passing leaves a profound void in New Caledonia and across the Oceania region, where her influence on basketball development and community sport will continue to be felt for generations.
Natsumi’s commitment within the New Caledonia Basketball League spanned governance, communication, club leadership, and strategic development. As a member of the League’s committee, a dedicated player with AS6KM, former President of SSI, and President of the Southern Provincial Committee in charge of Youth, she was a trusted representative to partners and institutions. She helped shape the direction of New Caledonian basketball with conviction, clarity, and heart.
Her role in the restructuring of the New Caledonia Basketball League was pivotal, and her ability to bring people together, across clubs, communities, and generations, was remarkable.
Her commitment to women’s sport was tireless. Natsumi participated in the FIBA Women in Basketball Program (WiLEAD) 2025 and the Her Rules, Her World initiatives in New Caledonia, actively supporting leadership pathways and creating safe, empowering spaces for girls to grow through basketball. She believed deeply in accessible sport, ensuring that every young person, regardless of background, could find belonging, confidence, and opportunity both on and off the court.
Natsumi supported young leaders, uplifted volunteers, guided teams, and drove ambitious projects that strengthened both basketball and the wider community sector. Her sincerity, kindness, and energy left a lasting impression on everyone she worked with, within the basketball community and beyond.
Her loss is felt not only in New Caledonia, but across the entire FIBA basketball family.
Natsumi truly embodied the spirit of Basketball for Good, using sport as a vehicle for community, empowerment, and change.
FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, said the following about Natsumi’s impact on the basketball community:
“Natsumi was a remarkable leader whose passion for community sport and women’s empowerment resonated across our region. Through WiLEAD and her work in New Caledonia, she championed opportunities for girls and women with courage, humility, and vision. Her legacy will continue to inspire us, and we honour the profound impact she made on our FIBA basketball family".