Tayla, who stands 1.73m, was swapped from playing goal defence to wing defence during the trials.
Despite the change, feedback from the coaches had been positive.
"They said they liked how mature and hungry out on the court I was."
Last Tuesday she found she had been selected for the Aotearoa squad. Since then it had been a scramble to raise funds for the eight-day trip to Malaysia.
"We had a week and half to raise about two and a half grand," Tayla said. "I got sponsors from everywhere, it's pretty amazing."
She said how grateful she was to her parents, Amy and Pete, for their help raising the money. "They are really supportive. They have given me a lot."
Her parents and sister Baylee will join her on the trip to Kuala Lumpur.
While she may be lucky with all the support, there is no doubt that Tayla puts in the hours. Listening to her tick off her weekly schedule, which includes almost daily netball and fitness training, is exhausting.
Tayla also coaches a reserve netball team of girls her own age at school, and said it was a job she could imagine doing in the future.
"I could see myself as a coach."
Asked if she ever wished for a bit more time off, the self-assured young athlete seemed briefly confused; it was as if the idea had never occurred to her.
"Sometimes," she said, after a pause. "But I like doing it all, so it doesn't really matter."
Presumably a 12-hour flight will give Tayla an opportunity to relax in front of a movie or two (unless she starts doing jumping jacks in the aisle).
One of the coaches is ex-Mystics coach and former Silver Fern Te Aroha Keenan, and Tayla was excited about the opportunity to improve under such expert tutelage.
"I'm pretty nervous, partly because all the girls are older ... for me, I want to play for the experience and development of my own game.
"I want to play for New Zealand secondary schools, but to do that you have to get noticed.
"This is a really good step."
