BEIJING (WCBA) – Some of the biggest names in the women’s game are gearing themselves in preparation to punch a ticket for the 2015 WCBA Championship Final.

There are four teams still standing and on the eve of this year’s Semi Finals, fans are relishing the prospect of some seriously heavyweight match-up which feature an array of talent that illuminated the FIBA World Championship for Women last year.

Gunning for a third consecutive title, current holders Shanxi Rui Flame are still being led by the successful fusion of Spain national team coach Lucas Mondelo and USA national team star, Maya Moore who continues to propel the team on the floor.

She has poured in over 30 points per game this season and really turned it on defensively too, with an average of 3.6 steals each time she steps out onto the hardwood.

However, Shanxi must prepare for time without Moore on the floor and so much will hinge on 2012 Olympian Wei Wei, who demonstrated her value by pouring in 18 points against Liaoning to wrap up a sweep in the Quarter Finals.

The defending champions will be red-hot favourites to make the title game again as they go up against Bayi, one of the few teams which boast only home grown talent.

Yet they can’t be discounted from causing an upset as they can call upon the services of a several players who helped China finish an impressive sixth in Turkey last year.

The versatile and all-action Wen Lu is leading the way and not far behind is powerhouse center Mengran Sun. They are two players who were at the heart of Tom Maher’s core rotation in Istanbul and very much the central pillars around which China have built their new-look national side.

Meanwhile 20-year-old Liting Zhang is continuing her progress under the basket with Bayi and having been handed a shock debut in Turkey, she is certainly benefitting from spending time alongside her club and international colleagues in the paint.

In the other half of the draw, Beijing Great Wall swept aside Guangdong in the last eight and will now come up against Jiangsu.

Beijing are highly fancied to make it to the Final and that is not surprising with marquee players like Brittney Griner, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds in her last game.

Meanwhile Ting Shao has moulded herself in rapid fashion into the star of the WCBA after her exploits for her nation last year and recent display in the All Star game.

Together, the duo have formed a formidable frontcourt partnership.

However, Jiangsu are smashing past expectations and crucially, they can match up against Griner in terms of physical presence via Belarus national team veteran and the vastly experienced, Yelena Leuchanka.

Not that she is necessarily the main threat offensively, since one of the most impressive aspects of Phoenix this season has been their balance – something helped by many terrific displays by national team guard, Xiaojia Chen who has pulled the strings in the backcourt to great effect.

It certainly promises to be a highly entertaining run down the WCBA season stretch.

FIBA