*This content was translated by AI.
Busan BNK has finally completed its "super team." Through a trade, the club has unexpectedly acquired top-tier forward Choi Yi-sam (32), one of the league's best.
On the 21st, BNK officially announced the signing of Choi Yi-sam via its corporate social media channels. In exchange, BNK agreed to send promising guard Shim Soo-hyun (23) and the first-round priority draft pick in the 2026 rookie draft to Shinhan Bank.
With this move, BNK has built a formidable roster as a top championship contender. In the 2024–2025 season, BNK secured the championship title with national team-caliber players including Park Hye-jin, Kim Sonia, Ahn Hye-ji, and Lee So-hee. Now, with the addition of league elite Choi Yi-sam, the team has completed its perfect puzzle.
BNK finished fifth in the league during the 2025–2026 season and failed to advance to the playoffs. However, with the acquisition of Choi Yi-sam, the team has immediately risen again as the strongest championship favorite for the upcoming season.
Notably, Park Hye-jin, Kim Sonia, and Choi Yi-sam have previously played together at Asan Woori Bank, where they led a dynasty. Their proven team chemistry is expected to generate tremendous synergy at BNK as well.
Shortly after the trade, Choi Yi-sam told StarNews, "I'm still in a daze. But with my senior teammates (Park Hye-jin and Kim Sonia), I'm not too worried about getting used to the team or building chemistry." She added, "Head Coach Park Jung-eun also reached out first, saying, 'Let's do our best.'"
Choi Yi-sam was selected second overall in the first round of the 2013 rookie draft and made her professional debut with Woori Bank. After dedicating 10 seasons to Woori Bank, she became a free agent (FA) in 2024 and joined Shinhan Bank. Now, just one season later, she has returned to BNK to embark on a new challenge. During the 2025–2026 season, she appeared in 29 regular-season games, averaging 4.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, delivering solid performances.
Meanwhile, although Shinhan Bank has lost veteran Choi Yi-sam, it has secured 100% of the first overall pick in the 2026 rookie draft, laying a solid foundation for a complete rebuild. The first overall pick was originally scheduled to be determined by a lottery between Shinhan Bank and BNK, both of which failed to reach the playoffs last season. However, through this major trade, Shinhan Bank has acquired BNK's draft pick as well, securing the first overall pick in the 2026 draft.
The first overall pick in the 2026 rookie draft is highly likely to be Im Yeon-seo, known as the "top high school guard." Shinhan Bank previously selected Hong Yu-soon and Lee Ga-hyun with the first overall pick in the 2024 and 2025 drafts, respectively. If the team adds Im Yeon-seo next year, it will have the potential to hold three top-tier prospects who will shape the future of Korean women's basketball simultaneously.
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*This content was translated by AI.
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