Fresh off a dramatic 75-70 victory over Japan in the final at Aichi International Arena, the South Korean women’s national basketball team captured the gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 26, securing the country’s first tournament title since the 2014 Incheon Games. All 11 players from the gold-medal squad have now returned to domestic action, with their sights set immediately on the upcoming 2026 KB Kookmin Bank Park Shin-ja Cup in Cheongju.
From International Glory to Domestic Hardwood
The swift transition from international competition back to club duties brings the newly crowned champions straight to Cheongju Gymnasium. The 2026 KB Kookmin Bank Park Shin-ja Cup runs from October 3 through October 11, offering local fans an immediate chance to watch the national team stars perform in Women’s Korean Basketball League (WKBL) uniforms. Group stage matches will run through October 9, followed by the semifinals on October 10 and the third-place match and final on October 11.
Standout Performers Heading to Cheongju
Several key architects of South Korea’s Asian Games campaign enter the tournament carrying impressive momentum from Nagoya. Guard Ha-Eun Heo of Cheongju KB Stars led the entire international field with an average of 7.2 assists per game, steering the offense with precision. Meanwhile, Lee So-hee of Busan BNK Sum finished second in the tournament’s 3-point shooting category, converting an average of 3.0 shots from beyond the arc per contest to stretch opposing defenses.
Asian Quarter and International Representation
The Park Shin-ja Cup field also features prominent international participants who competed alongside or against South Korea in Nagoya. Han Ya-eun of Yongin Samsung Life Blueminx and Hwang Shang-ting of Incheon Shinhan Bank S-Birds both suited up for Chinese Taipei during the Asian Games, helping their national side secure a fourth-place finish. In addition, five players from the Mongolian national team—which advanced to the tournament quarterfinals—will travel to Cheongju to represent Ulaanbaatar in the competition.
Tournament Schedule and Ticketing
Action at Cheongju Gymnasium opens on October 3 at 2:00 p.m. local time, featuring a matchup between Incheon Shinhan Bank and Ulaanbaatar. Supporters looking to attend the games can purchase tickets through the official WKBL mobile application and the league’s official website.
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