Asan Woori Bank demonstrated the prestige of the regular season championship team. From the first match, they defeated Cheongju KB and secured an 82.7% chance of advancing to the championship finals.

Woori Bank won 58-52 against KB in the first match of the Hana Bank 2024-2025 Women's Professional Basketball semifinals (best of five) held on the 2nd at Asan Iksun Gymnasium.

In the history of women's professional basketball, the team that won the first playoff game has made it to the championship finals 43 times out of 52. Woori Bank has therefore secured a rate of 82.7%. Having recorded 5 wins and 1 loss against KB during the regular season, Woori Bank continued to showcase its strength with a playoff victory.

It was not a difficult victory. From the beginning, Woori Bank took the lead and displayed tight defense in the second quarter. They limited KB's offense to just 5 points over 10 minutes, finishing the first half at 31-18. Woori Bank gradually extended their lead in the third quarter, led by Kim Dan-bi and Lee Myung-gwan.

However, there were moments of crisis. Woori Bank entered the final quarter leading by 15 points at 46-31, but they were shaken as Song Yoon-ha and Heo Ye-eun scored 10 points in quick succession. The gap had narrowed to 7 points.

But Lee Myung-gwan shone at a crucial moment. He successfully made all three free throws, putting out the immediate fire, and added a score in the paint. He calmly made the free throws earned in the final moments, thwarting KB's rally. Eventually, the game ended in victory for Woori Bank.

Woori Bank's Kim Dan-bi, who shines with 'eight-time regular season champion' and 'unanimous MVP' honors, played the full 40 minutes, achieving a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Additionally, Lee Myung-gwan led the team in scoring with 17 points. This performance demonstrated why head coach Wi Sung-woo presented him with his coaching award prize (3 million won) after he narrowly missed the Most Improved Player award.

Meanwhile, Woori Bank and KB will face off again on the 4th at the same venue for the second match. If Woori Bank wins the second match, coach Wi Sung-woo will set the record for the most playoff victories in history. With this win, he recorded his 34th victory (11 losses), tying with coach Lim Dal-sik (34 wins, 7 losses).

[Photo] WKBL provided.

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