[On-site Interview] "I couldn't bear to see the players" Only 2 high school seniors in Round 1... Coaches felt mixed emotions: "Don't give up, try again"

*This content was translated by AI.

The door to professionalism was cold. Only two high school graduates were called in the first round of the Women's Professional Basketball League (WKBL) Rookie Draft. Coaches who watched young players' challenges on-site could not hide their mixed feelings. Yet, they offered encouragement, saying this result is not the end and urging them not to give up but to knock on the door of professionalism again.

At the 2026-2027 WKBL Rookie Draft held at Cheongju Gymnasium on the 19th, a total of 39 participants joined, including 26 high school graduates, 4 university graduates, 4 corporate team players, 1 player active overseas, and 4 foreign-national Korean players.

Although this was the second-highest number of applicants since the introduction of the single league in the 2007-2008 season, it was an especially difficult draft for high school players.

Only two high school players were called in Round 1: Im Yeon-seo (Gwangju Suwha Girls' High School) at No. 2 overall and Lee So-hee (Sookmyung Girls' High School) at No. 6 overall.

Incheon Shinhan Bank, holding the No. 1 overall pick, selected Kaneda Mana, a Zainichi Korean with professional experience in Japan's W-League. Third-place Asan Woori Bank also drafted Kim Ri-hye, a third-generation Zainichi Korean who played for Aisin Wings in Japan's W-League. Bucheon Hana Bank selected foreign-national Korean player Ogura Yuriko, and Cheongju KB picked Won Yi-ana, an American national.

The first pick of Round 2 was also a foreign-national Korean player with Japanese nationality. Yongin Samsung Life chose Kanemitsu Ayane.

Judging solely by the draft results, domestic high school players appeared somewhat at a disadvantage when competing against players who had gained experience in universities and professional leagues.

Choi Yoon-ah, General Manager of Shinhan Bank who exercised the No. 1 overall pick, revealed that she could not look at young players with a light heart.

Coach Choi said, "Personally, it hurt my heart. I couldn't bear to see the players." She expressed regret, adding, "They must have gone through hard times, yet they were not selected."

However, she emphasized that the path to professional entry does not end with just this one opportunity.

Coach Choi stated, "The system has improved significantly, so you can keep knocking on the door of professionalism. There will be opportunities next year as well. I hope those who were not selected this time do not give up." She offered her encouragement.

She continued, "Although we selected a Zainichi Korean player, our team and other teams are always watching domestic players closely. I hope they do not give up even after this draft. I wish them to keep striving."

Kim Wan-soo, General Manager of KB, shared similar feelings. Coach Kim said, "I do not think they were not selected because high school players lacked ability." He added, "It would be better if more Korean players were selected, but most of the foreign-national Korean players who participated this time had graduated from university and gained experience before joining. I believe there is a difference in experience."

He further emphasized that one should not simply view domestic high school players as having inferior competitiveness, stating, "Those players also trained since high school and faced various difficulties while attending university to reach this point."

There were also realistic issues facing the clubs. Coach Kim explained, "Our team currently has a large number of players on the roster. If we select new players, it may create situations where existing players have to leave. There were difficulties in that regard."

Nevertheless, he encouraged players who were not selected to try again.

Previously, Coach Kim sent messages of encouragement to players who unfortunately missed out by comparing the fierce competition they faced with his own playing days. This time was no different.

Coach Kim said, "Players who could not go directly from high school to professional leagues can grow further at university and challenge again. Just as foreign-national Korean players did now, I believe they can certainly seize good opportunities again."

He added encouragement: "If you do not give up but keep preparing with the mindset of taking a short break here and there, you will likely achieve good results in the future."

Jeonju Woori Bank coach viewed that this year's high school players faced somewhat more difficulties competing against experienced foreign-national Korean players.

However, even in such circumstances, Woori Bank tried to give opportunities to as many players as possible. Although they selected Kim Ri-hye, who gained experience in Japan, in the first round, they exercised their draft rights afterward to include high school players such as Jung Ji-yoon (Suwha Girls' High School) and Lee Soo-hyun (Seonil Girls' High School).

Former Coach Jeon stated, "Since we selected a player who played in Japan in the first round, I thought we should also select at least one Korean player."

He then expressed his wish: "I hope Korean high school players grow significantly in the future and that many good players continue to emerge."

Busan BNK was the team that selected three high school players in this draft. They called the names of Im Yeon-seo, who dominated the high school stage, along with Song Eun-ji (Cheongju Girls' High School) and Kim Seo-hyun (Dongju Girls' High School).

Park Jeong-eun, BNK's coach, also could not hide her mixed feelings. Coach Park said, "Personally, there are parts that are regrettable and upsetting." She added, "Like Coach Choi Yoon-ah and Coach Jeon, we are people who have gone through this process directly as women's basketball players. We likely felt those same emotions."

However, she also emphasized that the world of professional sports is ultimately about competition. Coach Park stated, "In professional sports, one must compete. Domestic players must work harder to overcome that competition." She continued, "More foreign-national Korean players will challenge in the future, and I hope this serves as a good stimulus for domestic players."

She added, "While there is certainly regrettable feelings, I hope they accept it as a stimulus for growth on another level. Instead of asking for opportunities first, I wish the players would prepare with the mindset of showing their skills first."

Even behind BNK's exercise of draft rights up to the third round was the desire to give young players as many opportunities as possible. Coach Park admitted, "I have a strong desire to select more players."

She also pointed out the realistic limitations that clubs cannot accommodate all players. Coach Park explained, "Each club has a limit on the number of players they can operate. If one new player is selected, we must even consider the composition of the existing roster. Teams that gave up on drafting in later rounds likely had similar concerns. This is a dual-faced problem that professional clubs always carry."

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*This content was translated by AI.