South Korea wins women's basketball gold 75-70 over Japan at Asian Games

South Korea claimed the women's basketball gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 26, defeating Japan 75-70 in a closely contested final. South Korea built an early advantage, leading 27-15 after the first quarter and extending the gap to 42-23 by halftime. However, Japan mounted a dramatic fourth-quarter rally, closing to within two points with 15 seconds remaining before South Korea sealed the victory at the free-throw line.

Japan fielded a youth-focused roster under coach Yuko Oga as part of its preparation for the 2028 Olympics. The team's slow start proved decisive—Japan suffered a 15-point scoring drought in the opening quarter after an early three-pointer by Okamoto. Despite the deficit, Japan clawed back in the second half through contributions from Haru Owaki, who led Japan with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Miyu Okamoto. South Korea's Lee Hae-ran led all scorers with 24 points and nine rebounds, with Kang Lee-seul adding 21 points and seven rebounds.

The loss marks Japan's second consecutive silver medal in women's basketball at the Asian Games and extends the nation's gold-medal drought in the event to 28 years, since winning in Bangkok in 1998. South Korea clinched its first women's basketball gold in 12 years. Japan's players acknowledged the impact of their sluggish opening, with Okamoto stating a better start would have significantly improved their chances. South Korea's Lee reflected on the challenge: "We built a big lead early on, but they came back quite a lot in the second half. I don't think we maintained our concentration very well... but in the end, we won, so I'm extremely happy."

In the bronze medal match, China defeated Chinese Taipei 77-64, with Zhang Ziyu anchoring China's defense. China's Yang Shuyu credited persistence in shooting, noting the team attempted 40 three-pointers compared to 13 in an earlier game. China's head coach Gong Luming took a reflective approach, acknowledging the team missed their gold-medal target but valuing the shared commitment of the young squad.