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Incheon Shinhan Bank lost 65-54 to Busan BNK in the opening game of the 2025-2026 Women’s Professional Basketball League, which took place on the 16th.

BNK, which secured its first title in team history by beating Asan Woori Bank in the previous season’s finals, started the new campaign with a relaxed approach.

The game captured interest as the inaugural clash featuring female head coaches in the history of the WKBL (Women’s Korean Basketball League).

Shinhan Bank’s newly named head coach, Choi Yoon-ah, who is making her coaching debut, faced off against Park Jeong-eun of BNK but was stopped by the “defending champion’s” defense.

BNK was behind 11-15 at the end of the first quarter but came back to take a 32-27 advantage in the second quarter and held onto that lead throughout the second half.

The standout player in the opening match was Kim Jeong-eun, a third-year forward from BNK, who is 20 years old and stands 177 cm tall. She achieved a personal best of 14 points (5 rebounds), including two three-pointers, during the game.

She exceeded her previous career-high of 13 points, which was achieved on February 22 last year during a game against Hana Bank.

Before the final season, Kim Jeong-eun scored an average of 2.8 points across 42 games.

Top scorer Kim Sonia of BNK (14 points, 6 rebounds) and guard Ahn Hye-ji (10 points, 5 assists) also reached double digits in scoring.

Shinhan Bank responded through Shin Yi-seul (17 points, 3 three-pointers) and Hong Yu-sun (14 points, 4 steals), yet could not overcome the rebounding disadvantage (26-35).

It was also unfortunate that center Mima Rui, who is 185 cm tall and was chosen second under the Asian quota, could not participate.