[Interview] 'Rookie Award → Retirement at 26 → Cafe Owner Transformation'... Yang Ji-young's Second Challenge: "Basketball Filled with Regrets, Happiest When Making Bread"

*This content was translated by AI.

"I am happiest when customers enjoy the bread I make."

Yang Ji-young (33), a former WKBL Shin In-seon (수상) player who left the court at the early age of 26, has begun a new life as a cafe owner seven years after retirement. Her voice was consistently filled with bright smiles as she spoke about living happily doing what she loves most.

A graduate of Sukmyung Women's High School, Yang Ji-young once drew attention as a promising figure in Korean women's basketball. She joined Yongin Samsung Life at the second overall pick in the 2011 WKBL Rookie Draft and received her only Shin In-seon (수상) award during the 2012-2013 season, her second professional season.

However, the barrier of professionalism was high. Yang Ji-young announced her retirement at the relatively young age of 26 in 2019. Playing as a forward for nine seasons with Yongin Samsung Life and Incheon Shinhan Bank, she appeared in 93 regular-season games, averaging 1.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists. In her final season (2018-2019), she played in 31 games, averaging 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

Her family is deeply connected to basketball as well. Her mother, Moon Kyung-ja, was a key figure in winning the silver medal in women's basketball at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Her younger sister, Yang In-young (Bucheon Hana Bank), also became a professional player, making the two sisters the first pair to play together on WKBL courts. At the time, they were recognized as the second sister duo in the history of women's professional basketball.

Now, instead of uniforms, Yang Ji-young wears an apron to welcome customers. Early last month, she opened a cafe in Seoul Yongsan-gu and embarked on the second challenge of her life.

These days, Yang Ji-young starts her busy day by arriving at work three hours before opening to make bread herself. In a phone call with StarNews on the 27th, she smiled and said, "I come out early every morning to make bread and prepare for opening. It was difficult at first, but my body seems to have adjusted now."

The decision did not come suddenly. After retirement, she explored various fields to find a new career path and eventually found answers in what she loved most.

Yang Ji-young recalled, "After retiring, I wanted to learn something new, so I tried many things. But I have always been serious about food. Especially, I really loved bread. My mother told me, 'If you love bread that much, make it yourself.' Hearing those words, I officially started baking."

It began as a hobby. She shared the bread she made with people around her and realized the happiness baking brought when she saw them enjoying it.

Yang Ji-young explained, "Making bread was so fun. Even kneading dough without any thoughts was enjoyable. While making bread, I could focus only on what was in front of me without other distractions. It also helped relieve stress."

She continued, "Most importantly, the happiness I felt seeing people enjoy the bread I made was immense. I kept studying, earned a barista certification, and had a good opportunity to open a cafe."

Because she makes everything herself, her affection for each menu item is special. Yang Ji-young said, "Since I make all the bread myself, my affection grows even more. Although I learned both confectionery and baking, I have now composed the menu with items I am most confident in and good at. Among them, the cheesecake tastes the best," she introduced confidently.

The cafe has already become a space frequently visited by women's basketball players and WKBL fans. Yang Ji-young expressed gratitude, saying, "Friends who played basketball together promoted us a lot in the early days, and many basketball fans have come to visit. I feel truly proud when they say it tastes good."

The most frequent visitor and reliable helper is her younger sister, Yang In-young. Yang Ji-young said, "In fact, In-young visits the cafe more often than I go to the basketball court. After Saturday morning training ends, she comes almost every week. She helps with tasks like washing dishes at the cafe before going home." When asked about paying her sister's part-time wages, she laughed and replied, "Just give her a cake."

Yang Ji-young wished for health and happiness over performance for her sister who continues her playing career. Having watched from the closest position as In-young endured injuries and rehabilitation, she said, "I saw In-young in pain due to her shoulder, unable to sleep properly. At home, she worked very hard on rehabilitation exercises every day using sticks and bands. Now, I hope she can play basketball without getting hurt again and just be happy doing what she wants."

Her husband, who married last May, is also a reliable support system. He comes to the cafe after work every day to help with cleaning and guards the shop together on weekends. Yang Ji-young shared her feelings of apology and gratitude, saying, "We don't have time to enjoy our honeymoon. My husband comes to the cafe after work every day to clean. There are no separate weekends."

Currently, she is smiling while doing what she loves, but reflecting on her playing days still leaves deep regrets. When Yang Ji-young decided to retire, everyone around her, including her mother and sister, tried to hold her back. However, her mind was firm at the time.

Yang Ji-young reflected, "When I retired, my mother, sister, and everyone else advised against it. But my will was so strong. At that time, both my body and mind were extremely tired."

She continued, "The team's performance was not good either, and I felt like everything was my fault. Those thoughts kept piling up, making things even harder."

Looking back at the court after time passed, regret outweighed relief. Yang Ji-young said, "When I think about basketball, all I feel is regret. Looking back now, I don't know what was so scary back then."

She added, "These days, when I see young players competing, they shoot with real confidence and don't hesitate to challenge themselves. Even though they are young, they work hard and play well. Seeing that, I thought many times, 'Why couldn't I do the same? I should have tried.'"

She further stated, "I wanted to challenge myself without fear like those players and do things confidently. That thought comes up often."

For juniors facing similar concerns, she offered advice as a senior who has already gone through difficult times.

Yang Ji-young said, "Players will all overcome this well, but if difficult thoughts keep piling up, it becomes even harder. That moment will pass somehow. Don't hold onto it for too long; I hope you can get through it well. Everyone should give their best."

Finally, Yang Ji-young expressed gratitude to WKBL fans who have consistently shown love and support even after her retirement. She said, "A fan who has supported me since my rookie days often visits the cafe now. Even if they are not my personal fans, many basketball-loving fans come to visit. There are quite a few basketball fans who have already become regulars."

She continued, "Even though it has been a long time since I stopped playing, I am truly grateful that they haven't forgotten and keep coming. I will work hard to make this cafe a place where they can continue visiting five or ten years from now."

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*This content was translated by AI.