▲ South Korea's Lee So-hee attempts a shot under the basket during the women's basketball final against Japan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 26th.
The South Korean women's basketball national team has reclaimed the top spot by defeating Japan, marking the first time in 12 years that South Korea has swept both the men's and women's basketball titles at the Asian Games.
Led by head coach Park Su-ho, the national team claimed the gold medal with a 75-70 victory over Japan in the women's basketball final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 26th.
This is the first time the South Korean women's team has stood at the highest step of the podium in 12 years, since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
It is also the first time in 32 years, since the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, that the South Korean women's team has won the championship at an Asian Games held outside of South Korea.
Riding the momentum of their victory yesterday (the 25th) against China—featuring 226-centimeter center Zhang Ziyu—to reach the final, South Korea demonstrated remarkable resilience to capture the title.
It is a double celebration for South Korean basketball as a whole.
Following the men's national team securing their first Asian Games gold medal in 12 years on the 20th, the women's national team delivered another golden victory, placing both the men's and women's 5x5 basketball teams side by side at the top of the podium.
Combined with the gold medal won by the men's 3x3 team and the bronze medal by the women's 3x3 team, South Korean basketball has brought a brilliant close to the tournament with outstanding achievements.
Today, South Korea seized early control by aggressively pushing Japan with high energy right from the start of the match.
Trailing 2-3 in the first quarter, South Korea reeled off 13 unanswered points, propelled by Lee Hae-ran, who poured in 11 points in the first quarter alone, to take a 27-15 lead.
Starting the second quarter with a perimeter shot by Kang Lee-seul, South Korea further widened the gap as Lee Hae-ran's consecutive three-pointer and elbow jumper sliced through the net.
Late in the first half, a deep three-pointer from well beyond the arc by Lee So-hee extended the lead to 42-23, finishing the half with a commanding 19-point advantage.
Although Japan launched a fierce pursuit in the second half, South Korea refused to relinquish control.
Kang Lee-seul found her shooting touch, scoring 12 points in the third quarter alone—including two three-pointers—maintaining a double-digit lead at 63-51 heading into the final quarter.
Japan steadily chipped away at the deficit and mounted a fierce chase in the fourth quarter.
Starting with four consecutive points early in the fourth quarter, Japan capitalized on a three-pointer and a fast-break score by Suzuno Higuchi to close within 4 points at 62-66 with 6 minutes and 27 seconds remaining in the game.
South Korea extinguished the run with consecutive scores from Lee So-hee and Kang Lee-seul, but conceded free throws following successive foul calls, allowing Japan to pull within 4 points again at 70-66 with 2 minutes and 15 seconds left.
Maintaining a 72-68 lead after clutch baskets by Lee Hae-ran and Lee So-hee in crunch time, South Korea faced a crisis when they conceded two free throws to the opponent with 16.6 seconds remaining.
Fortunately, Japan missed both free throws, but South Korea allowed a basket under the basket in the ensuing defense with 15 seconds left, narrowing the gap to just 2 points at 72-70.
With the outcome hanging in the balance, Kang Lee-seul calmly sank both free throws with 14 seconds left on the clock to seal the victory, completing South Korea's golden finale.
Today, Lee Hae-ran spearheaded the victory by pouring in 24 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.
Kang Lee-seul contributed 21 points and 7 rebounds, while Lee So-hee added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists to secure the win.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.