BENGALURU (India) – There are few players in Asian women's basketball whose presence changes the equation quite like Park Jisu.
At 198 centimetres, the Korean center gives the Cheongju KB Stars a formidable presence in the paint, while her experience at the highest levels of the international game makes her one of the most accomplished players in the FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia (WBL Asia) 2026 field.
And now, after a difficult few months, Park is back.
The 27-year-old returned to action on October 4 after almost five months out with an ankle injury. Coming off the bench against Busan BNK Sum in the Park Shin-ja Cup, she played just 16 minutes and 55 seconds - but still produced 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks as KB Stars won, 69-51.
It was an encouraging first step in her comeback, and potentially a very important one for the KB Stars with the WBLA just around the corner.
A proven force
Park has been the centerpiece of Cheongju for years and has built one of the most impressive résumés in the WKBL.
A four-time WKBL MVP, she has established herself as one of the league's dominant interior players, combining size with soft hands, mobility and an ability to influence games at both ends of the floor.
Her international résumé is just as impressive.
Park made her senior FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup debut in 2014 at only 15 years old. She wasn't simply a teenage passenger: she averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds for Korea.
Four years later, she returned to the World Cup stage at the 2018 edition, averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in three games.
She subsequently became one of Korea's central figures, including at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she averaged 13.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
An inside-out threat
Park's value goes well beyond her ability to score around the basket.
Her size makes her an obvious target in the post, but she can also facilitate from the high post and punish teams on the glass. At the other end, her timing and reach make her a major shot-blocking presence.
That was evident in Korea's FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament campaign earlier this year. Despite Korea finishing third in France, Park averaged 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 blocks in five games.
And just two years earlier, at the 2024 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Mexico, she was even more influential, averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 blocks.
That versatility could be particularly valuable in Bengaluru, where the KB Stars will face champions from across Asia.
The comeback
The biggest question surrounding Park heading into the WBLA is not whether she can influence a game.
It is how quickly she can get back to being Park Jisu.
She suffered an ankle injury just before the 2025-26 WKBL championship series and eventually underwent surgery in May. The injury kept her out of both the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The absence was particularly frustrating for Park because she had wanted to return to the national team.
Park has already played at multiple World Cups, the Olympics and in the WNBA. Now she gets another opportunity to test herself on a major international stage.
For Cheongju, her return could be one of the biggest factors in their campaign.
For Park, the WBLA offers a chance to show that one of Asia's most accomplished centers is ready to reclaim her place among the continent's elite.
FIBA