[서울=뉴스핌] Sports reporter Jang Hwan-soo = Women’s professional basketball met with fans through media day ahead of the opening of the 2024-2025 season.
The Women’s Korea Basketball League (WKBL) held its opening media day at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 21st with coaches and representative players from six teams in attendance.
Women’s professional basketball begins its regular season with a match between Hana Bank and KB at Bucheon Gymnasium at 2:30 pm on the 27th. Hana Bank served as the title sponsor for the 2024-2025 season. This season, 6 teams will play 30 games per team through 6 rounds.
WKBL President Shin Sang-hoon said, “This season will be a special season for our league. With the start of the Asian quota system, we expect to bring a new wind to the court and show high-level basketball with an international feel.” He added, “Together with the six clubs, we have chosen ‘UP Grade’ as our slogan to attract many spectators through differentiated events and marketing.”
Women’s professional basketball, which has been a two-way match between Woori Bank and KB in recent years, is predicting a change in perception this season.
Woori Bank’s Park Ji-hyun and KB Park Ji-soo have advanced overseas. In particular, Woori Bank suffered a power vacuum as Park Hye-jin (BNK) and Choi I-sam (Shinhan Bank) transferred to other teams.
Even in the survey conducted by WKBL ahead of Media Day, no team was singled out as an absolute powerhouse. The players cast 25 votes, the most out of 103, for Samsung Life Insurance. In the media vote, BNK received the most votes with 20 out of 46 votes. In the fan vote in which 516 people participated, Woori Bank received the most votes with 159.
Second place in each category went to BNK in the player and fan votes, and Woori Bank in the media vote.
On this day, the commanders pointed out Samsung Life Insurance and BNK as candidates for the championship. BNK coach Park Jeong-eun, Hana Bank coach Kim Do-wan, and Shinhan Bank coach Guna Dan predicted, “Samsung will have an advantage because there are not many changes in players.” Samsung Life Manager Ha Sang-yoon responded that BNK, which has reinforced Sonia Kim and Hye-jin Park, is the favorite to win. Woori Bank director Sungwoo Wi pointed out both Samsung Life Insurance and BNK.
As for the expected MVP, Danbi Kim (Woori Bank) ranked first in player (35.9%), media (41.3%), and fan (32.3%) votes.
This season is characterized by the introduction of the Asian quota system for the first time, opening the door to Japanese players. Shinhan Bank recruited former Japanese national team member Rika Tanimura. All other clubs also had Japanese players. KB and Woori Bank selected two people.
The regular league will be held until February 22nd next year, followed by the semifinal playoffs and championship game in March. The All-Star Festival will be held on December 22nd.
zangpabo@newspim.com
