The 8 players shining across Asian Leagues
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – There are many players now hitting top gear across domestic leagues in China, Korea, Japan and Australian and here is my pick.
Li Yueru – Guangdong, WCBA
Who said 🇨🇳China's LI Yueru's ONLY dominates the paint❓🤔
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 24, 2017
📹 https://t.co/7O5sjUQpgJ pic.twitter.com/HMTPks5ntv
She is still only 18-years-old and yet already one of the biggest names in women’s ball after her near double-double at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. The future of basketball in China, the teenager is now tearing it up in the WCBA for Guangdong. She is averaging more than 17 points and 10 rebounds per game – perhaps most impressively, sinking more than 60 percent from the floor.
Elizabeth Cambage – Melbourne, WNBL
It will be of little surprise to anyone, that the standout player in Australia is the imposing center, with Cambage having been typically dominant so far for Melbourne Boomers. She is averaging a jaw-dropping 61 percent from 2-point range and producing in excess of 22 points and 9 rebounds per outing.
Jonquel Jones – Shanxi Xing Rui, WCBA
Having ripped it up in Korea last season where she was the standout player for Woori Bank, Jones is now doing her thing in China with former champions Shanxi Xing Rui. The Connecticut Sun center has been on fire and accumulated an eye-bulging 25 points and 17 rebounds so far, to underline her WNBA quality.
Damiris Dantas – KB Stars, WKBL
#ICYMI Player Spotlight: @DamirisDantas
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 17, 2017
Learn more about #AtlantaDream forward Damiris Dantas! #RWTD10
📝: https://t.co/Yzi8Naw5Ed pic.twitter.com/b9XU7QZ2vu
The Brazilian national team and WNBA forward has enjoyed a terrific rookie season so far with KB Stars and showed she is ready to take the WKBL by storm. Her recent 28 points and 14 rebounds against Samsung which gave her team a slender victory was typical of a brilliant double-double campaign which is returning more than 22 points and 14 boards per game.
Breanna Stewart – Shanghai, WCBA
#Shanghai Gameday today✌🏿
— Riley_3034 (@cwraypova) November 27, 2017
📝Shanghai extended their winning streak to six,@bre_stewart30 is averaging 27pts 11.8reb 3.3stl 2.7ast and 1.7 blk. 👏🏿😈 pic.twitter.com/dqOUVsUzDN
The USA national team star continues to excel in the WCBA, a league she knows so well after her previous seasons competing in China. Arguably the major star when it comes to the ‘foreigners’, Stewart is once again leading the charts, having poured in 28 points per game for Shanghai – as well as hauling down almost 12 boards each time she hits the hardwood.
Maki Takada – Denso Iris, WJBL
選手の背番号と名前入り応援Tシャツができました‼️
— Maki Takada (@Takada08) October 3, 2017
限定100枚😱各会場で販売しています🤗
これを着て応援席を赤く染めてください😎
他にもグッズがあるので是非買ってくださると嬉しいな😭
どっかコラボして商品できたらいいな〜🤓
他にもこんなグッズがあったらいいなとかありますか⁉️🤔 pic.twitter.com/UGKFJ0r5QQ
The leading rebounder for Japan during their glorious golden success at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017, Takada is crashing the glass just as vigorously in the WJBL. She is on top form for Denso Iris and the only player in the WJBL who is posting a double-double season in the league so far with 18 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Zhao Shuang – Shenyang, WCBA
Even if Shuang played only a cameo role in helping China to take the last podium step at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, she has shifted up a gear since changing her national team jersey for domestic action. Showing she can perhaps contribute more at the international level in future games, she is averaging an all-action 25 points, 5.4 assists and 5 rebounds per game for Shenyang.
Rui Machida – Fujitsu Red Wings, WJBL
There is unlikely to be anyone else in the women’s game who is dishing it up like Machida right now, since the guard is almost in double-digits for assists with an astonishing 9.3 per game so far. She was a vital part of Japan’s title-winning team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup and she is also beginning to hit the mark with her scoring as well, having posted four consecutive double-figure scores.
Paul Nilsen
FIBA
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