A Sport New Zealand survey has found there are about 220,000 females participating in basketball.
The latest New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council census shows participation has grown significantly as well, with an 18% increase during the past three years.
In Dunedin, the sport has experienced strong growth too.
In 2011, there were just eight senior women's teams.
That has grown to 14 teams, although it is down from a high of 17 in 2014.
Basketball Otago operations manager Greg Brockbank said secondary school playing numbers had swollen as well, up from 96 teams in 2011 to 140 this year. The growth has mainly occurred in the social grades, though.
Basketball New Zealand community participation director Brad Edwards said with more New Zealanders playing the game, it is an opportunity to establish it as one of the leading women's sports in the country.
"We made a number of decisions last year to raise the profile and improve the opportunities in the women's game,'' Edwards said in a press release.
"Last year we increased our Tall Ferns budget from $60,000 to $320,000 because we felt strongly about providing for the women's game as equally as we do for the men's game.
"That investment covered an extensive tour this year, and we plan to continue sending the Tall Ferns on preparation tours against strong opposition ahead of pinnacle events.
"We've also developed the Women's New Zealand Select team to grow that second level of elite talent and add to their world-stage experience.
"The Junior Tall Ferns are also benefiting from a strong development programme. They went on tour to China earlier this year and we've just announced a home test series for them in September.''
Goldrush and Ajax guard Nicole Ruske was named in the Junior Tall Blacks earlier this week.
Edwards believes BBNZ can do more but essentially it is about "ensuring basketball is an accessible and attractive sport for girls and women''.
BBNZ is working on further plans to develop the women's game and will announce more initiatives later in the year.
