How did South Korea beat China to reach the women’s basketball final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?

South Korea erased a four-point deficit entering the fourth quarter and leaned on long-range shooting to win 85-80 in Nagoya. Captain Kang Lee-seul’s three-pointer gave South Korea a 70-69 lead, and Lee Hae-ran extended it to 78-74 with another three-pointer.

Who led South Korea in the women’s basketball semifinal against China?

Lee So-hee led the team with 23 points and five three-pointers, while Lee Hae-ran added 22 points and six rebounds. Kang Lee-seul contributed 16 points and two made shots from beyond the arc.

What is at stake for South Korea in the women’s basketball final?

South Korea will play the winner of Chinese Taipei and Japan on Saturday and is seeking its first women’s basketball gold medal since 2014. The team is going for its fifth overall Asian Games women’s hoops title.

S. Korea beats China to reach women's basketball final

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Summary

South Korea advanced to the women’s basketball final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday after beating China 85-80 in Nagoya. Lee So-hee and Lee Hae-ran each scored more than 20 points to fuel the comeback. South Korea will face the winner of Chinese Taipei and Japan on Saturday as it chases its first Asiad women’s hoops gold since 2014.

Key Facts

South Korea trailed 65-61 entering the fourth quarter before rallying with three-pointers to overtake China.
Lee So-hee scored a game-high 23 points, including five three-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds.
Lee Hae-ran added 22 points and six rebounds, while captain Kang Lee-seul scored 16 points and made two shots from behind the arc.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 25, 2026 7:27 pm KST

South Korean players celebrate their victory after winning against China in the semifinals of women's basketball at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Aichi International Arena, Japan, Sept. 25. Reuters-Yonhap

NAGOYA—South Korea advanced to the women's basketball final after pulling off a come-from-behind victory over China at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday, moving a step closer to its first Asiad gold medal in 12 years.

Guard Lee So-hee and forward Lee Hae-ran scored more than 20 points each to help South Korea defeat China 85-80 in the semifinals at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya.

South Korea will take on the winner of Chinese Taipei and Japan on the other side of the draw in the final scheduled for Saturday.

Coached by Park Soo-ho, South Korea is chasing its first gold medal in women's hoops since 2014 and its fifth overall. The men's national team won gold here Sunday.

In the first quarter, South Korea's forwards struggled to get past China's 220-centimeter center Zhang Ziyu, ending the quarter down 19-17.

The gap widened to 41-36 in the second quarter as South Korea had difficulty finding its range from three-point territory.

Some timely three-pointers helped South Korea stay in a seesaw battle in the third quarter.

Entering the fourth quarter down four points at 65-61, South Korea mounted a dramatic comeback, relying heavily on three-pointers.

Captain Kang Lee-seul hit a three-pointer to give South Korea a 70-69 lead, and Lee Hae-ran's three-pointer extended the lead to 78-74, with the team maintaining the lead to seal the victory.

Lee So-hee scored a game-high 23 points, including five three-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds, while Lee Hae-ran added 22 points and six rebounds.

Captain Kang scored 16 points and made two shots from behind the arc.

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