Park Ji-su Dominates as KB Stars Place Woori Bank on the Brink in Playoff Game 2

The Cheongju KB Stars have moved one step closer to the championship finals, delivering a commanding 78-54 victory over Asan Woori Bank in Game 2 of the BNK Financial 2025-26 Women’s Pro Basketball semi-final playoffs. The win, secured on April 10 at the Cheongju Gymnasium, gives the Stars a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

While the final score suggests a blowout, the contest began as a tactical battle of styles. Woori Bank entered the game attempting to neutralize the Stars’ height advantage with a high-energy, guard-heavy rotation. However, that strategy eventually collapsed under the weight of Park Ji-su’s interior dominance and a series of critical injuries that left Asan struggling to maintain intensity over four quarters.

The Park Ji-su Takeover

For the first quarter, the Stars’ centerpiece, Park Ji-su, remained surprisingly quiet, contributing only two points. Woori Bank capitalized on this leisurely start, using their speed to harass the KB perimeter and finding success with outside shooting to lead 18-14 late in the opening frame.

The momentum shifted violently in the second quarter. As the game progressed, the physical toll of defending Park became evident. The 28-year-old MVP began to seize control of the paint, scoring nine points in the quarter alone. The half ended on a definitive note when Park sank a buzzer-beater, flipping the score to 37-35 in favor of the Stars.

By the second half, the “Park Ji-su effect” had completely dismantled Woori Bank’s defensive structure. As Asan collapsed their defense to stop Park’s scoring in the post, the perimeter opened up. This tactical shift allowed the Stars to launch a devastating run in the third quarter. After Park sparked a sequence of plays with 4 minutes and 38 seconds remaining in the third, KB erupted for 13 consecutive points, effectively ending the contest.

Park finished the night as the undisputed engine of the offense, recording 19 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists.

Depth and Support: The Supporting Cast

While Park provided the gravity, the Stars’ victory was a product of balanced scoring and versatility. Kang Yi-seul provided a vital secondary punch, contributing 12 points and 11 rebounds to join Park in a double-double performance. Kang’s ability to hit three-pointers and drive to the rim kept the Woori Bank defense from focusing solely on the interior.

The Stars’ backcourt and bench also stepped up when called upon. Heo Ye-eun added 15 points, while Song Yun-ha, coming off the bench, chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds. Lee Chae-eun rounded out the scoring with 9 points. This depth proved insurmountable for a Woori Bank squad that lacked the rotation to keep pace.

A Grim Picture for Woori Bank

The struggle for Asan Woori Bank was as much about health as it was about tactics. Before the tip-off, head coach Wi Seong-woo was candid about his team’s disadvantaged state, noting that star player Kim Dan-bi was not at 100% due to knee issues. He also expressed regret over having to play other injured athletes, including Yoo Seung-hee, simply to fill the roster.

Woori Bank started the game with a lineup of Shim Seong-young, Kang Gye-ri, Kim Ye-jin, Ayano, and Park Hye-mi. While this mobile group managed to keep the game tight through the mid-point of the second quarter—leading 35-32—they lacked the size to counter Park Ji-su in the closing stages of the game. As the game wore on, the physical disparity became the deciding factor.

The lead ballooned in the fourth quarter, with Song Yun-ha pushing the margin to 20 points (70-51) with 2 minutes and 48 seconds remaining. The Stars closed the game with a final 4-0 run to seal the 24-point victory.

Road to the Championship

Having finished the regular season in first place, the KB Stars are now on the verge of their first championship appearance since the 2021-22 season. A victory in the next game would mark their third overall title in franchise history.

For Woori Bank, the situation is dire. Facing elimination in a 0-2 hole, they must uncover a way to contain Park Ji-su while hoping for a surge in health from their core players before the series concludes.

What’s Next: The series shifts to the Asan Yi Sun-shin Gymnasium on April 12 for Game 3, where the Cheongju KB Stars will look to complete the sweep and advance to the finals.