Sichuan Dominates Shanxi in Historic WCBA Finals Opener: The Liz Cambage Effect

ZIGONG, China — The 2025-26 WCBA Finals opened with a statement of absolute dominance on Tuesday night. In a performance that rewrote the league’s history books, the Sichuan Shudao Yuanda Women’s Basketball Team dismantled the Shanxi Zhuyeqing Wine Women’s Basketball Team 95-61 at the Fushun County Cultural and Sports Center.

The 34-point margin of victory stands as the largest ever recorded in a WCBA Finals game, signaling a massive shift in momentum for a Sichuan squad that spent much of the season fighting to find its identity.

The Return of the Interior Powerhouse

At the center of Sichuan’s onslaught was Australian standout Liz Cambage. After returning to the roster in early 2026, Cambage proved why she remains one of the most feared interior forces in global basketball. In Game 1, she recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds, effectively neutralizing Shanxi’s interior defense and controlling the pace of the game from the paint.

Cambage’s presence has transformed Sichuan’s tactical approach. For a global audience, the “Superstar Basketball” dynamic is evident here: when a single player can command double-teams and dominate the glass, it opens the floor for the rest of the roster. This dominance allowed Sichuan to dictate terms from the opening tip, leaving Shanxi with few answers for the Australian’s size and skill.

From Early Struggles to Finals Dominance

The blowout victory is particularly sweet for Sichuan given their turbulent path to the championship round. The team began the season facing significant roster challenges, as core national team stars Li Meng and Han Xu were playing overseas, leaving the squad shorthanded during the early stages of the league.

The struggle was evident in their previous encounters with Shanxi. In their first meeting of the regular season, Sichuan suffered a narrow 74-78 loss on the road. Even after Cambage’s return, the team struggled with consistency, falling 82-91 to Shanxi in a home game. The disparity reached a peak during the WCBA Club Cup finals, where a Sichuan team missing Cambage and other key players was overwhelmed by a three-import Shanxi squad, losing 72-96 and settling for second place.

However, the postseason saw a calculated evolution in Sichuan’s roster construction. To balance the interior dominance of Cambage and fellow import Howard, the team acquired Eric Ogbonna to address a critical weakness: perimeter shooting. This addition provided the necessary spacing to prevent defenses from collapsing entirely on the interior, blending “Superstar” impact with “Team” tactical balance.

Depth and National Team Aspirations

While Cambage provided the headline performance, the victory was supported by a well-rounded domestic core. Guard Wang Siyu and forward Gao Song showed strong form, contributing to the offensive fluidity that left Shanxi reeling.

The team’s upward trajectory is further validated by the recognition of its domestic talent. Small forwards Jia Saiqi and Tang Ziting were both named to the latest Chinese national team training camp roster just one day prior to the Finals opener. In a pre-game interview, Jia Saiqi noted that the national team call-up served as motivation to perform for the Sichuan club.

Tactical Breakdown: The 34-Point Gap

The historical margin of victory can be attributed to Sichuan’s ability to execute a dual-threat attack. By pairing the interior gravity of Cambage with the outside threat of Ogbonna, Sichuan forced Shanxi into a defensive dilemma they could not solve.

• Interior Control: Cambage’s 19+10 performance ensured Sichuan won the rebounding battle and limited Shanxi’s second-chance opportunities.
• Perimeter Spacing: The integration of Ogbonna mitigated the “clogged paint” issues that plagued Sichuan in their earlier losses to Shanxi.
• Defensive Pressure: Sichuan’s ability to shut down Shanxi’s key playmakers resulted in a defensive clinic, holding the opposition to just 61 points.

For those following the league’s evolution, this game highlights the ongoing tension between relying on a dominant individual force and building a balanced team system. While the victory was sparked by Cambage’s brilliance, the structure provided by the domestic core and the strategic addition of perimeter shooting proved essential.

Sichuan now holds a commanding lead in the series, having successfully exorcised the demons of their previous three losses to Shanxi this season. The focus now shifts to whether Shanxi can make the necessary tactical adjustments to counter the interior presence of Cambage in the upcoming games.

Next Checkpoint: The series continues as Sichuan looks to extend their lead in the 2025-26 WCBA Finals. Official schedules for the subsequent rounds are pending league confirmation.

Do you think a dominant import player like Liz Cambage is the key to winning the WCBA, or is a balanced domestic roster more sustainable? Share your thoughts in the comments below.