"Basketball Has Gone Crazy": South Korea Women Rout Towering China—One Win Away from the First Away Men’s and Women’s Gold Medals [Nagoya AG]

[Financial News] South Korean basketball has truly gone crazy. After already sweeping up two gold medals and dominating the court, South Korean basketball now stands one win away from the unprecedented achievement of winning away gold medals for both its men’s and women’s teams at the Asian Games. Even the supposedly impregnable Great Wall of China crumbled helplessly in the face of the Taegeuk Ladies’ blazing three-point shooting.
The South Korea women’s national basketball team, coached by Park Su-ho, advanced to the final with a dramatic 85-80 victory over China, anchored by 220-cm giant Zhang Ziyu, in the semifinal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 25th.
The victory sent South Korea’s women’s basketball team to the Asian Games final for the first time in 12 years, since winning gold at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. It also marked the team’s first final appearance in eight years, since taking silver as a unified Korean team at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. More importantly, after South Korea’s men’s national team won gold for the first time in 12 years on the 20th, the women’s team has now reached the final as well. South Korean basketball is just one win away from the first away men’s and women’s championship in its history.

The road to victory was far from easy. South Korea, ranked 14th by FIBA, was outmatched by China, ranked seventh, on paper. South Korea also trailed 26-45 in the all-time series and had suffered the humiliation of six straight losses since the Tokyo Olympic qualifiers in November 2019.
The early momentum was uneasy as well. After falling behind 17-19 in the first quarter, South Korea struggled against China’s 220-cm center Zhang Ziyu in the second. With the paint locked down and its outside shots misfiring, South Korea fell behind 29-37 at one point and appeared headed for defeat. But Heo Ye-eun’s valuable three-pointer late in the first half kept the comeback hopes alive, sending South Korea into halftime trailing 36-41.
The real battle began after halftime. Heo Ye-eun opened the third quarter with a shot from outside, and 1 minute 20 seconds later, Lee So-hee of Busan BNK Sum hit a three-pointer to give South Korea a dramatic 44-43 lead. China turned to Zhang Ziyu whenever it faced trouble, using her height to apply pressure, and South Korea ended the third quarter trailing 61-65.
In the fateful fourth quarter, South Korea’s "crazy perimeter shooting" came down on the Nagoya court in a relentless barrage. Captain Kang Lee-seul of Asan Woori Bank Woori Won had been quiet throughout the game, but her scoring touch erupted at the decisive moment, putting South Korea back in front 70-69 with 5 minutes 30 seconds remaining. With the momentum on its side, South Korea showed no mercy. Lee Hae-ran of Samsung Life Insurance drilled a thunderous three-pointer with 2 minutes 37 seconds left to make it 78-74, and Lee So-hee’s dagger from outside made it 81-76 with 1 minute 50 seconds remaining, effectively bringing down the Great Wall.

The clear heroes of the victory were the scoring duo of Lee So-hee and Lee Hae-ran. Lee So-hee led both teams with 23 points and six rebounds, including five three-pointers, while Lee Hae-ran dominated both the paint and the perimeter with 22 points and six rebounds. Captain Kang Lee-seul added 16 points to anchor the team, and Heo Ye-eun directed the offense with nine assists and three three-pointers for nine points. China’s Zhang Ziyu fought hard with 22 points and seven rebounds, but her effort was not enough against South Korea’s explosive team play.
South Korea snapped its seven-year, six-game losing streak against China on the most dramatic stage. Already riding historic momentum after collecting two gold medals, South Korean basketball now turns its attention to a third. The highly anticipated final will take place at 7:20 p.m. on the 26th against the winner of Japan and Taiwan. The Taegeuk Ladies’ final golden dance, as they turn a miracle into reality, is about to begin.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter