"106-40, Yes, That's a Basketball Score" Women's Basketball Blasts Malaysia by 66 Points in Opener [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] The crisis caused by the absence of the team's "one-two punch" proved unfounded. United as one with 11 elite players, the South Korea women's national basketball team opened its campaign to reclaim the Asian crown after 12 years with a merciless 100-point offensive display.
The South Korea women's national basketball team, led by Park Soo-ho, routed Malaysia 106-40 in the Group C opener of the women's basketball competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 18th.
Jisu Park, the team's cornerstone, was sidelined by injury, while Park Ji-hyun was unavailable because of her WNBA schedule. South Korea made the bold decision to enter the tournament with only 11 players and no replacements, but the feared loss of cohesion never materialized. Instead, the team overwhelmed its opponent with play that was faster and more tightly connected.

The leaders of the victory were the "Busan BNK Sum duo," Lee So-hee and Choi I-saem. Lee So-hee led all scorers with 21 points, repeatedly hitting three-pointers, while Choi I-saem spearheaded the offense with 19 points after tirelessly moving between the paint and the perimeter. An He-ji (BNK) also contributed 10 rebounds in the battle for inside control, and floor general Heo Ye-eun (Kookmin Bank) orchestrated the offense with eight assists.
After a feeling-out first quarter, South Korea bared its claws in the second. Perimeter shots from Lee So-hee, Heo Ye-eun and Kang Yu-rim (Samsung Life Insurance) repeatedly found the net, while Choi I-saem, Hae-ran Lee (Samsung Life Insurance) and Jin An took turns attacking the paint. South Korea poured in 37 points in the second quarter alone, while Malaysia was held to just 12. After taking a commanding 59-22 lead into halftime, South Korea continued to overwhelm Malaysia with its superior size and speed, eventually securing a record 66-point victory.


A total of 11 teams are participating in the women's basketball competition, divided into three groups for the group stage. The six teams that finish first or second in their groups, along with the two best third-place teams, will advance to the quarterfinals to compete for the medals.
After settling for bronze at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, South Korea is targeting its fifth gold medal overall, 12 years after Asian Games Incheon 2014. Buoyed by the encouraging opening win, Park Soo-ho's team will face Mongolia at 1 p.m. on the 21st and Taiwan at 4 p.m. on the 22nd, aiming to advance to the quarterfinals as group winners.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter