[Behind-the-Scenes Interview] 'Move to KB' Yoon Ye-bin: "Huh Ye-eun contacted me, and I thought I had to go if the MVP of the Championship called"

*This content was translated by AI.

"I thought I had to go if the MVP of the Championship called."

Yoon Ye-bin (29), who entered the women's professional basketball free agency (FA) market, announced a new beginning. She left Yongin Samsung Life and moved to Cheongju KB Stars.

In a phone call with StarNews on the 14th, Yoon Ye-bin said, "Fortunately, several teams contacted me. I had a happy dilemma, but it was so painful, and I made a very difficult decision. Among them, KB evaluated my value the most positively, so I chose them."

On that day, the KB team officially announced, "We have acquired FA Yoon Ye-bin. The contract period is three years, with a total annual amount of 150 million won."

There is another reason why Yoon Ye-bin chose KB. It was KB guard Huh Ye-eun. Yoon Ye-bin said, "I received a call from Huh Ye-eun. I thought I had to go if the MVP of the Championship called. I got along well with Huh Ye-eun, and she contacted me saying she needed me, which made me very grateful. She is a player with excellent ability. I felt this even more during this Championship. I think it will be more fun to play with Huh Ye-eun, and I can receive help from her. I came to KB because I wanted to play with Huh Ye-eun," she smiled.

National team guard Huh Ye-eun delivered exceptional performances against Samsung Life in the Championship. Thanks to this, KB achieved its third consecutive league title in franchise history, even though 'National Treasure Center' Park Ji-soo could not play in the championship due to an ankle injury.

This year, KB lost 'another key asset' Kang I-seul (Asan Woori Bank) in the FA market. However, by bringing in Yoon Ye-bin, they filled the gap. Additionally, after a tug-of-war, Park Ji-soo also re-signed. This maintains their championship-contending strength as always.

Yoon Ye-bin said, "I think I will be able to play basketball comfortably with Park Ji-soo. I am very much looking forward to it. Both Park Ji-soo and Huh Ye-eun are players I got along with well. I think I will be able to adapt quickly and comfortably."

KB also stated, "With Yoon Ye-bin's joining, we have built a more solid guard lineup. Yoon Ye-bin is a player we have been interested in and watching for a long time. Given her rich experience and diligence, we expect her to be a great help in strengthening our backcourt competitiveness."

Yoon Ye-bin, who was selected as the first overall pick in the 2016 rookie draft, joined the professional stage after being drafted by Samsung Life. She played for only one team, Samsung Life, for 10 seasons from the 2016-2017 season through the 2025-2026 season.

Yoon Ye-bin said, "Samsung Life has treated me so well, so it hurt my heart the most. Samsung Life fans waited for me and cheered for me even more often than when I played. I am so grateful. If given the chance, I will strive to return in a healthier state," she conveyed a heartfelt farewell message.

Throughout her career, Yoon Ye-bin has experienced various injuries, but she overcame them and stood up like a tumbler. Last season, she appeared in 26 regular-season games, averaging 5.1 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals.

Yoon Ye-bin said, "Actually, I didn't think I would play this much last season. It still feels like a dream and is hard to believe. Since I chose a new change, I will work hard and prepare well with the thought of taking on more responsibility," she said with determination.

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*This content was translated by AI.