'Where is Park Ji-soo really?' KB and first FA negotiations break down... Kim Jin-young, Yoon Ye-bin, and others remain 'uncontracted'

*This content was translated by AI.

Park Ji-soo (28, Cheongju KB), considered the top free agent in the women's professional basketball FA market, has not yet decided her future even after the first round of negotiations.

The Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) announced the results of the 2026 FA first negotiations on the 10th. According to the announcement, Park was able to negotiate with her current team, KB, and the league's other five teams from the 1st until 5 p.m. on the 10th, but she failed to secure a new contract.

In addition, five players, including Kim Jin-young, Lee Hye-mi (both Incheon Shinhan Bank), Yoon Ye-bin (Yongin Samsung Life), and Kim Ye-jin (Asan Woori Bank), also failed to reach an agreement in the first round of negotiations and remain uncontracted.

The second round of negotiations will take place from the 11th until 5 p.m. on the 15th. Players who fail to sign a contract during the second negotiation period will proceed to a third round of negotiations with their original teams from the 16th until 5 p.m. on the 18th.

Known as the 'National Treasure Center,' Park Ji-soo is a top-tier player in the league that everyone is vying for. Many teams showed interest even before the FA market opened. Although Park missed the championship finals due to an ankle injury this season, she demonstrated her continued dominance by winning the regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. She appeared in 24 regular season games, averaging 16.54 points and 10.1 rebounds. With Park's performance, KB continued its momentum and secured the club's third consecutive overall championship.

For KB, the departure of 'another key player,' Kang I-seul, to Woori Bank through this FA market is a significant blow. Losing Park Ji-soo as well would be devastating. However, since there are teams in urgent need of roster reinforcement, the second round of negotiations is expected to feature fierce competition for acquisitions.

Kang I-seul signed a four-year contract with Woori Bank worth a total of 420 million won.

However, KB has re-signed Lee Chae-eun (3 years, 150 million won), Lee Yoon-mi (1 year, 50 million won), and Kim Min-jeong (1 year, 0.4 billion won). Jo Su-a also signed a three-year contract with her original team, Samsung Life, with an annual salary of 90 million won.

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*This content was translated by AI.