[Draft] 'Third consecutive No. 1 pick' Shinhan Bank selects Japanese-Korean Kaneda Mana; BNK picks Im Yeon-seo... Only two high school seniors among six first-round picks

*This content was translated by AI.

Incheon Shinhan Bank's choice was Japanese-Korean Kaneda Mana. Im Yeon-seo (Gwangju Suifa Girls' High School), hailed as the 'second Kim Dan-bi' who dominated high school basketball, was selected second overall and will wear the Busan BNK uniform.

On the 19th at Cheongju Gymnasium, Shinhan Bank selected Kaneda with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026–2027 Women's Professional Basketball League (WKBL) rookie draft.

A total of 39 players participated in this draft: 26 high school graduates, 4 university graduates, 4 corporate team players, 1 player active overseas, and 4 foreign-national Korean athletes. This marks the second-highest number of participants since the single-league system was introduced in the 2007–2008 season, with Kaneda being the first name called.

Born in 1998, Kaneda is considered one of the top prospects alongside Im Yeon-seo. After graduating from Osaka University of Human Sciences, she began her professional career in Japan's W.League with Chanson V-Magic from 2020 to 2024, then played for Toyota Antelopes from 2024 to 2026.

She is also a familiar name to domestic basketball fans. While playing for Toyota in 2024, Kaneda participated in the Park Sin-ja Cup, averaging 23 minutes and 7 seconds per game across six matches, recording 5.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. She also competed in the July 2026 WKBL 3X3 Triple Jam.

Kaneda's father holds Korean nationality, while her mother holds Japanese nationality. Her mother originally held Korean citizenship but later naturalized as a Japanese citizen.

Shinhan Bank head coach Choi Yoon-ah explained the rationale behind selecting Kaneda: "She has gained diverse experiences in Japan and is exactly what we need as an immediate contributor. We have been watching her for a long time." She added, "When she announced her participation in the rookie draft, we knew immediately that we had to pick her."

The coaching staff also plans to utilize her versatility broadly. Coach Choi stated, "Given her offensive tendencies, she can play as the second or third option. Defensively, I believe she can be deployed flexibly from the first through fourth positions."

Upon stepping onto the stage, Kaneda expressed, "I am extremely happy and honored to join Shinhan Bank, a team with such tradition. I look forward to your support going forward."

With this selection, Shinhan Bank has exercised its right to the No. 1 overall pick in the rookie draft for three consecutive years.

In 2024, they selected Hong Yu-soon; last year, Lee Ga-hyun. This year, by adding Kaneda—who is regarded as an immediate contributor—they secured top-tier draft resources for the third straight year.

Originally, BNK had won the lottery to claim the No. 1 pick in this draft. However, following a trade executed between the two teams last June, Shinhan Bank ultimately held the actual No. 1 overall selection right.

Shinhan Bank sent key forward Choi Lee-saem to BNK in exchange for promising guard Sim Soo-hyun and the first-round priority pick in this year's rookie draft. Consequently, although BNK won the lottery for the No. 1 pick, Shinhan Bank exercised its right to select first, leaving BNK with the No. 2 overall pick.

In an interview with StarNews last month, head coach Choi Yoon-ah discussed her top candidate for the No. 1 pick: "We are considering a wide range of options. Rather than having one specific player in mind, there is a pool of candidates." She added, "Two or three players have clearly emerged as serious contenders, and among them, we are focusing particularly on one."

The final choice was Kaneda.

BNK, holding the No. 2 overall pick, called the name of Im Yeon-seo, known as the 'second Kim Dan-bi.'

This was an expected selection. Im Yeon-seo had long been regarded as one of the top prospects in this draft. Her strengths lie in her all-around abilities: exceptional scoring, rebounding, passing, and defense. Given her ability to influence both offense and defense throughout the game, she earned the moniker 'second Kim Dan-bi.'

Her performance on the high school court this season was overwhelmingly dominant. Im led Gwangju Suifa Girls' High School to victory at the 63rd Spring National Men's and Women's High School Basketball Federation Tournament, earning MVP honors. She swept the scoring, assists, rebounds, and defense awards, achieving a personal five-award sweep.

Gwangju Suifa Girls' High School later claimed titles at the Association President's Cup National Men's and Women's High School Basketball Tournament and the Korea High School Basketball Weekend League King of Kings Tournament, completing a three-title season sweep. Im Yeon-seo earned MVP in all three tournaments her team won, effectively dominating the high school basketball scene.

Upon hearing BNK's call, Im Yeon-seo expressed gratitude to coaches, club officials, mentors and teammates who guided her, as well as officials from the Korea High School Basketball Federation.

When mentioning her family, she shed tears. Im said, "My mother and father worked harder than I did, supporting me since elementary school. They made me realize how much love I have received."

She then declared confidently, "I will surprise everyone with plays that defy expectations for a rookie."

The third overall pick went to Aisan Woori Bank, who selected Kim Ri-hye. A third-generation Japanese-Korean born in 2002, she is a forward who graduated from Aichi Gakuin University and played for Aisin Wing in Japan's W.League from 2024 until this year. At the 2026 WKBL 3X3 Triple Jam this year, she shared the court with Kaneda on the same team.

Kim Ri-hye stated briefly but firmly, "I will work hard in Korea."

The fourth pick went to Bucheon Hana Bank, which selected 'big man' Okura Yuri. A foreign-national Korean athlete of Japanese nationality with a Korean father, Okura graduated from Aichi Gakuin University. In the 2024 Tokai regional university league, she ranked fifth in scoring and second in rebounds; she also placed fifth in rebounds in 2025.

The fifth pick went to Cheongju KB, which selected Won Yi-ana, a U.S.-national athlete. She participated in the WKBL rookie draft last year but was not selected, then played for the domestic corporate team Sascheon City Hall before attempting another professional challenge. A graduate of Siena Heights University, Won Yi-ana said, "I am learning Korean. Please look kindly on me even if I make mistakes." She added, "I will work hard."

Yongin Samsung Life, holding the final first-round selection, chose Lee So-hee (Sookmyung Girls' High School), a 181cm tall forward and center.

Lee So-hee comes from a basketball family. Her mother, Lee Yeon-jeong, played for Shinsegae, and her older brother, Lee Chan-young, plays for Busan KCC. With veteran center Bae Hye-yoon retiring at the end of last season, Samsung Life strengthened its interior future by selecting Lee So-hee.

Thus, among the six players selected in the first round, only two—Im Yeon-seo and Lee So-hee—were high school graduates. The remaining four spots were filled by players with Japanese league experience and foreign-national Korean athletes, creating a draft landscape markedly different from previous years.

The first pick of the second round also went to a foreign-national Korean athlete of Japanese nationality. Samsung Life selected Kanemitsu Ayane. In the 2024 Zen-Kyushu University Basketball Spring Tournament, she ranked first in scoring and rebounds; later that year, she received the Most Valuable Player award at the Zen-Kyushu University Basketball League.

Next, KB selected Kim Sung-eon from Dankook University, who had played for the 49th Korea-Japan University Basketball Representative Team under the Lee Sang-baek Cup.

Samsung Life, having acquired Hana Bank's second-round pick through a trade the previous day, selected Gwangju University guard Jo Woo. Jo Woo also participated in the 49th Korea-Japan University Basketball Representative Team under the Lee Sang-baek Cup.

Woori Bank called out Jeong Ji-yoon, an 182cm center from Gwangju Suifa Girls' High School. She is the daughter of Lee Jung-hee, who played for Hyundai Industrial Development.

Shinhan Bank selected Kim Sa-rang, a forward from Seonil Girls' High School, while BNK chose Song Eun-ji, a forward from Cheongju Girls' High School.

In the third round, BNK, Shinhan Bank, and Woori Bank exercised their selection rights. BNK chose Kim Seo-hyun, granddaughter of Park Hyun-eun—a former National Bank player and current coach at Pusan National University. Shinhan Bank selected Jo Hee-won from Seonil Girls' High School. Woori Bank picked Lee Soo-hyun, also from Seonil Girls' High School. A 173cm guard, she possesses quick speed and excellent passing ability.

In the fourth round, all six teams chose not to exercise their selection rights.

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*This content was translated by AI.