*This content was translated by AI.
He played in his first All-Star Game five years after his professional debut, and even won the MVP award. Byun So-jung (23, Busan BNK Sum) had an unforgettable day.
Team Ponyble (director Park Jung-eun, coach Kim Wan-soo, coach Choi Yoon-ah) beat Team Unible (director Lee Sang-beom, coach Wi Sung-woo, and Ha Sang-yoon) 100-89 in the BNK Financial 2025-2026 Women's Professional Basketball All-Star Game held at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan on the 4th.
Byun So-jung was the main player in the Ponyble victory. He had 25 points and 5 rebounds, including playing 25 minutes and 5 seconds and making 4 3-pointers. It was the most goals scored by both teams. Byun So-jung's most points scored in the regular league were 13 points and one three-point shot was successful. Even in both the Park Shin-ja Cup and the Futures League, it has never exceeded 20 points. Indeed, he used a career high in the All-Star Game.
Byun So-jung, who first stepped on the court with 5:15 left in the first quarter, started lightly by scoring a three-run shot in two attempts. Since then, he has added a score in a light movement, leading Ponyble's pursuit. After the reversal, he was able to run away as the outer gun fired despite being chased 44-46 in the second quarter.
He also performed well. After seeing the referee's decision, he showed a light aegyo, and when the coach came out on the court, Park Jung-eun held the microphone and cheered, "Director, please show us."
Byun So-jung, who scored 20 points early in the third quarter, rested on the bench early in the fourth quarter. Then, when Unibull chased after him, he was put back on the court and scored a free throw, sealing the game.
Amid this performance, Byun So-jung won 43 out of 62 votes in the press corps vote, beating her friend Park So-hee (Hana Bank, 11 votes) to win the MVP. It is the third time that he has been named MVP in his first All-Star appearance after Maru (KDB Life Insurance at the time) in the 2017-18 season and Jinan (BNK at the time, 2nd selection) in the 2022-23 season. Byun So-jung won the 2nd prize and took 5 million won (MVP 3 million won and 2 million won in scoring) in prize money.
Byun So-jung, who met with reporters after the game, said, "It was my first All-Star, so I didn't know how the flow was going, but my sisters told me a lot, so I was able to adapt more easily. I felt good because I got better results than I thought," he said. As for the part where he looked good in shooting, he said, "I felt comfortable because I thought he was an all-star. I had a good feeling."
Byun So-jung, who made her best game in the All-Star Game, said, "It was good to throw it comfortably without thinking," and vowed, "With today, I think I should be confident and prepare well for the second half, and work hard based on today's regular season." During practice, he often throws three-point shots through coaching staff's guidance, he said, "I can't throw because I have a lot of thoughts even if I have a chance at a game. He said, "I think I should do it because he told me and did it."
Byun So-jung, who has received a lot of attention since his days at Bundang Management High School, received the third pick in the first round by Incheon Shinhan Bank in the 2021-22 season draft. At the time of joining the team, Lee Hae-ran (Samsung Life Insurance) and Park So-hee (Hana Bank) made "Big 3." However, the career has been curved. He was given a chance to play from a low age, but he blew the entire season with a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee in the home opener of the 2023-24 season.
Byun So-jung, who recalled the time, said, "I prepared the best for the offseason. "I worked hard to get into the main position," he said. "I didn't know I should have restrained myself because I felt well in the first game. As I did it, the problem was that I was in good shape." Having not even been able to walk for a while due to a major injury, he said, "I couldn't remember how I played basketball. There were many days when I was depressed and frustrated," he confessed.
Subsequently, Byun So-jung transferred to BNK through a trade (Park Sung-jin + Byun So-jung ↔ Shin Ji-hyun + Shin In-draft nomination rights) in April 2024. In fact, he missed only two games while rehabilitating and playing, and even experienced his first championship game. Based on his improved physical condition this season, he has played an average of 21 minutes and 15 seconds in 13 games in the first half, recording 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists. They are creating scoring opportunities through compliance off-the-ball moves (ballless movements) and are struggling in BNK, which is inferior in height.
Byun So-jung, who was selected as an All-Star five years after her debut, confessed, "I thought the fans would forget because I was seriously injured." "The director, the coach, and the sisters took good care of me and gave me a lot of time, so I think I would have made my body comfortable and joined them here now," he said.
Veteran Kim Dan-bi (Woori Bank), who shared a meal with Byun So-jung when he was a rookie, said, "I hope young players can gain good experience and play well in the season to grow up and shine in women's basketball." After hearing this, Byun So-jung said, "I want to be a player who represents women's basketball like my sister because she likes it."
Where will the prize money of 5 million won be spent. Byun So-jung said, "It's my first time, so I don't know what it is," but added, "Thanks to my sisters who played together in Ponyble and Unibble, I was able to receive the MVP and the score award. I want to share the prize money," he said.
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*This content was translated by AI.
