Sichuan to meet Denso Iris in FIBA Women’s Basketball League Asia final

Sichuan Yuanda Meile will face Denso Iris in the final of the FIBA-Women’s Basketball League Asia tournament at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, after both teams won their semifinals on Saturday.

American Chennedy Carter, a 27-year-old former WNBA player and the only ex-WNBA competitor in the field, has been among Sichuan’s leading scorers at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in this WBLA edition. Sichuan have reached their second final in three WBLA editions and last won the title in the inaugural 2024 tournament.

Sichuan defeated KB Stars 93-74 in the semifinal, with Carter scoring 31 points while collecting five rebounds and dishing out five assists. Australia’s Sara Blicavs added 22 points and captain Song Gao contributed 22 for Sichuan. KB Stars’ top scorers were Yunjeong Na with 22, Yunha Song with 15 and Yaeun Heo with 15.

Denso Iris advanced with an 86-78 win over Cathay Life Tigers, propelled by 37-year-old centre and Olympic medallist Maki Takada’s 20 points. Teammates Sokhna Sylla and Haruna Kasagi scored 12 apiece and Mnami Yabu added 10 for Denso. Cathay Life Tigers received 30 points from Penina Davidson and 14 from Shelby Cheyanne Cheslek.

Akari Sparks beat Indian Railways 86-56 in the 5th-6th place match, consigning Indian Railways to sixth place after their third successive defeat in the tournament. Bre’Amber Shakira Scott led Akari Sparks with 25 points and Saicha Patricia Grant-Allen scored 24. Pushpa Senthil Kumar and Harima Sundhari Munishkannan each finished with 13 for Indian Railways.

The final between Sichuan Yuanda Meile and Denso Iris is scheduled for Sunday at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, when the tournament champion will be decided.