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 achieved a combined men's and women's basketball victory at the Asian Games.

Led by head coach Park Su-ho, the national team secured a 75-70 victory over Japan in the women's basketball final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held today at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, taking home the gold medal.

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 Korea.

Carrying the momentum from yesterday's victory against the "Great Wall" China, spearheaded by 220-centimeter center Zhang Ziyu, South Korea displayed tremendous determination to capture the championship title.

This is a double celebration for South Korean basketball as a whole.

Following the men's national team's capture of their first Asian Games gold medal in 12 years on the 20th, the women's team delivered another golden victory, placing both the men's and women's 5x5 basketball national teams at the very top of the podium.

Combined with the gold medal in the men's 3x3 event and the bronze medal in the women's 3x3 event, South Korean basketball has achieved dazzling results in this tournament.

From the beginning of today's match, South Korea aggressively pressured Japan with high energy and active movement, taking an early lead.

Trailing 2-3 in the first quarter, South Korea unleashed a 13-point unanswered run, propelled by Lee Hae-ran, who poured in 11 points in the first quarter alone, to take control at 27-15.

In the second quarter, South Korea opened fire with an outside shot from "captain" Kang Lee-seul, followed by a consecutive three-pointer and elbow jumper from Lee Hae-ran that found the net, widening the gap further.

Near the end of the first half, Lee So-hee landed a deep three-pointer from well beyond the arc, allowing South Korea to finish the first half with a comfortable 19-point lead at 42-23.

Although Japan intensified its pursuit in the second half, South Korea did not easily relinquish control.

Kang Lee-seul found her shooting touch, scoring 12 points in the third quarter alone, including two three-pointers, entering the final fourth quarter with a double-digit lead at 63-51.

Japan launched a fierce chase in the fourth quarter.

Starting with four consecutive points early in the fourth quarter, Japan narrowed the gap to just 4 points at 62-66 with 6 minutes and 27 seconds remaining in the game, fueled by Suzuno Higuchi's three-pointer and fast-break points.

South Korea put out the fire with consecutive scores from Lee So-hee and Kang Lee-seul, but conceded painful free throws due to successive foul calls, allowing Japan to close within 4 points again at 70-66 with 2 minutes and 15 seconds left.

Maintaining a 72-68 lead thanks to crucial baskets from Lee Hae-ran and Lee So-hee in crunch time, South Korea faced another crisis when they conceded two free throws to the opponent with 16.6 seconds left in the game.

Fortunately, Japan missed both free throws, but South Korea allowed a paint basket with 15 seconds remaining in the ensuing defense, narrowing the score to just 2 points at 72-70.

With 14 seconds left on the clock in the tense, edge-of-your-seat game, Kang Lee-seul calmly sank both free throws to seal the victory, completing a thrilling golden finale for South Korea.

In today's match, Lee Hae-ran spearheaded the victory with 24 points and 9 rebounds.

Kang Lee-seul added 21 points and 7 rebounds, while Lee So-hee contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists to secure the win.

(Photo: Yonhap News)