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🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

Japanese-Korean player selected first overall in WKBL draft

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Kaneda Mana, a player of Japanese-Korean descent, was selected first overall in the 2026-2027 Korean Women's Basketball League (WKBL) draft.
  • The draft saw three of the six first-round picks holding foreign nationalities, including players with Japanese and Korean heritage.
  • Concerns were raised about the lack of playing fields and insufficient matches for youth soccer players in South Korea.

The Korean Women's Basketball League (WKBL) draft saw a player of Japanese-Korean heritage, Kaneda Mana, selected as the first overall pick for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Incheon Shinhan Bank chose Kaneda, a forward who has been playing in Japan's Women's Basketball League (W-League) since 2024, gaining valuable experience. Shinhan Bank coach Choi Yoon-ah expressed confidence in Kaneda's immediate impact, stating she was deemed "ready to play right away."

Kaneda, born to a Korean father and a mother who later naturalized as Japanese, represents a significant international presence in the draft. Following Kaneda, the second pick went to Suphiah High School guard Lim Yeon-seo, considered a top prospect, who will join Busan BNK. The third pick was another player of Japanese-Korean heritage, forward Kim Ri-ye, who also played in the W-League, selected by Asan Woori Bank.

Bucheon Hana Bank selected center Okura Yuri, a foreign national of Korean descent, with the fourth pick. Cheongju KB Stars chose Won Ian-a, a foreign national of Korean descent who played for the industrial team Sacheon City Hall, as the fifth pick. Yongin Samsung Life rounded out the first round by selecting forward Lee So-hee from Sookmyung Girls' High School.

Overall, 39 players participated in the draft, with 15 (38.5%) being selected. The notable presence of three foreign-national players among the six first-round picks drew significant attention, highlighting a growing international influence in the league.

She is deemed ready to play right away.

— Choi Yoon-ahShinhan Bank coach, on selecting Kaneda Mana as the first overall pick in the WKBL draft.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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