Danbi Kim double sparks the S-Birds in the WKBL

YONGIN (WKBL) – After a decidedly sluggish start to the new WKBL season, Shinhan Bank S-Birds have been sparked into life by a super display from national team player Danbi Kim.

With the S-Birds having lost three of their opening four games of the campaign, the forward provided the inspiration for  the S-Birds to head to Yongin and take down Bichumi 58-50, in a hard fought triumph which helped to make up some of the ground lost during the early running.

Having spent her entire career with the club, Kim is now very much the pivotal figure at the S-Birds and her 15 points and 10 board performance was typical of her talent and role as a difference-maker.

She made a string of three-pointers to show her shooting range and remains one of the WKBL’s leading players in terms of points production and three-point shooting.

Her double-double effort has given the S-Birds a launch-pad to finally build some momentum and especially as their next match-up comes at struggling Guri KDB Life Winnus, who remain winless after five straight losses in a disastrous start to the campaign.

Although despite not having any wins on the board, Winnus are likely to favour their chances of belatedly accruing a maiden success as they pushed KEB Hanabank hard in their last outing.

Korea national team forward Jung-Ja Sin produced an incredible effort on the glass by harvesting a spectacular 20 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to prevent her team falling to a heart-breaking 72-69 overtime defeat.

Hanabank are being propelled by USA guard and newly crowned FIBA World Championship for Women winner, Odyssey Sims who poured in 28 points as well as adding seven rebounds and three assists.

While Winnus have lost all their games so far, Woori Bank Hansae are unbeaten after a fifth consecutive success - courtesy of a 62-49 home win against KB Stars.

Power forward Vicki Baugh did her best with 17 points and nine rebounds for the losing team, with Charde Houston impressed for the WKBL leaders after corralling 21 points and nine rebounds.

FIBA