Jessica Bygate

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Jessica Rose Bygate (born 10 January 1992) is a former New Zealand professional basketball player. She played as a forward and stands about 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall. Born in Pahiatua, New Zealand, she grew up in Nelson and attended Nelson College for Girls, then spent a year at Lincoln University.

Early life
Bygate grew up in Nelson, New Zealand, and went to Nelson College for Girls before heading to Lincoln University for a year.

College
She began her college career at Moberly Area Community College in Missouri, then transferred to Dickinson State University in North Dakota to play for the Dickinson State Blue Hawks.

Professional career
Back in New Zealand, she played for the Nelson Sparks and Canterbury Wildcats in the Western Basketball League, winning a league championship and earning MVP. After a season with Gladstone Power in Queensland, Australia, she joined the Adelaide Lightning for the 2015–16 WNBL season and then the Melbourne Boomers for 2016–17. She later played in the NBL1, including for Norths, helping them win the 2023 NBL1 East championship and finish as runners-up at the Nationals.

National team
Bygate made her international debut for New Zealand at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, winning a silver medal with the Tall Ferns. She also won bronze for New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Current life
She now lives in New South Wales and works in sports management and operations.