The 2026-2027 Women’s Professional Basketball season opens its five-month schedule on Nov. 1, 2026, featuring a 35-game regular-season format and a historic increase in female head coaches across the league, according to league announcements covered by domestic sports reports.
Women's Basketball Season Expands to 35 Games per Team
The official opening game of the KB스타뱅킹 2026-2027 Women’s Professional Basketball season tips off at 4:00 p.m. local time on Nov. 1, 2026, at Cheongju Gymnasium, pitting Cheongju KB against Busan BNK. KB Kookmin Bank serves as the title sponsor for the upcoming campaign. The regular schedule runs through March 9, 2027, expanding to seven rounds for a total of 35 games per team—an increase from the six-round, 30-game format used since the 2019-2020 season. Following the regular season, the playoffs begin on March 13, 2027, with the championship series concluding no later than April 3, 2027.
Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Momentum
The league launch follows closely behind the South Korean women’s national team capturing a gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, ending a 12-year title drought at the tournament. National team members returning to domestic club action include Heo Ye-eun of KB, Kang Lee-seul of Woori Bank, Lee Hae-ran and Kang Yu-rim of Samsung Life Insurance, Lee So-hee, An Hye-ji, and Choi Yi-sam of BNK, Park So-hee, Jin An, and Jung Hyun of Hana Bank, and Hong Yu-sun of Shinhan Bank.
League Expands Asia Quota Recruitment to Nine Countries
The league has revised its Asia quota system, opening recruitment to players from nine countries including the Philippines and Taiwan through a free-agency structure rather than limiting selections strictly to Japan. Notable additions joining clubs include Sakura Noguchi of Shinhan Bank, Han Ya-en for Samsung Life Insurance, and Vanessa de Jesus for BNK. Teams can deploy two Asia quota players simultaneously during the second and third quarters, expanding tactical options compared to previous rules that restricted concurrent play to the third quarter.
Historic Rise in Female Head Coaches
Half of the league’s six franchises will be led by female head coaches for the first time in WKBL history. BNK head coach Park Jung-eun enters her sixth season, Shinhan Bank is led by Choi Yoon-ah, and Jeon Joo-won takes charge at Asan Woori Bank. Jeon, who served as a longtime assistant under former coach Wee Sung-woo starting in 2012 and coached the South Korean national team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, recently guided Woori Bank to a runner-up finish at the Park Shin-ja Cup.
Roster Shifts Across League Contenders
Defending champion KB retains core talents including reigning regular season and championship MVP Park Ji-su and Heo Ye-eun under head coach Kim Wan-soo, despite the departure of shooter Kang Lee-seul to Woori Bank. Woori Bank pairs Kang with ace Kim Dan-bi, who enters the season having scored 7,950 career points through last season as she chases Kim Jung-eun’s (은퇴) all-time scoring record of 8,476 points. BNK aims to improve on a fifth-place finish from the previous season by combining its Asian Games returnees with Sonia Kim and Park Hye-jin. Samsung Life Insurance features forward Lee Hae-ran following her development with the national team, while Hana Bank returns its Asian Games contingent of Jin An, Park So-hee, and Jung Hyun. Shinhan Bank looks to climb out of the bottom tier behind rookie draft top pick Mana Kaneda and Sakura Noguchi.
Postseason Format Shifts to Best-Of-Three Series
The 2026-2027 All-Star Game is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2027. Due to the expanded 35-game regular season, the postseason format has been adjusted, shortening the playoff series from a best-of-five to a best-of-three format.
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