TAIYUAN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Shanxi lost to Sichuan 74-65 in Game 5 of the 2025-26 Women's Chinese Basketball Association finals on Saturday, finishing runner-up after a 3-2 series defeat.
Though Shanxi missed out on the championship, the young team drew attention after returning to the finals for the first time in eight years.
A glance at Shanxi's roster reveals a striking feature: Eight of its 16 domestic players were born after 2000.
Many of them come from collegiate basketball programs. Zhai Ruoyun graduated from Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, while Chen Yujie and Huo Juntong played for Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Song Kexin was a key guard at Tsinghua University, and Fang Min once earned MVP honors in the CUBA Southwest Division.
Built around a core of student-athletes, the youthful Shanxi squad has emerged as a contender in a competitive league.
"College players have their own characteristics, with clear strengths and weaknesses," said Zhang Jian, head of Shanxi Xingrui Professional Basketball Club. "Our young players lack physical strength and consistency, which are our disadvantages."
Those weaknesses were evident in the early games of the finals, as several previously impressive young players struggled under intense defense and mounting pressure.
Zhai, who averaged 10 points and two 3-pointers per game in the regular season, made just three of 16 attempts from beyond the arc in the first three finals games, leaving the team overly reliant on foreign players for scoring.
Yet Shanxi's turnaround was also fueled by the traits of its young squad: unity, determination and the ability to learn and adapt. In Game 2 of the finals, Zhang Ru, who had missed her first five shots, delivered a decisive basket in the closing moments.
"Only two days after a heavy loss to Sichuan, we made significant adjustments," Zhang Ru said. "We shared the ball more and played with greater cohesion."
Persevering through setbacks and growing through challenges has defined Shanxi's season, and its journey over the past 14 years.
The team burst onto the scene in the 2012-13 season, winning the WCBA title in what was dubbed a miracle. Shanxi went on to win three consecutive championships, establishing a golden era.
However, following the departure of star foreign player Maya Moore and a generational transition among domestic players, the team's dominance faded.
Although Shanxi reached the finals again in the 2017-18 season, finishing runner-up, the team later entered a prolonged downturn, hovering on the edge of the playoffs for several years.
Facing the challenge of rebuilding, the club chose a different path.
"The achievements of the past two years are rooted in long-term planning, scientific management, and proactive reform," Zhang Jian said. "In response to the transition and talent gaps, we have focused more on universities, identifying and nurturing potential players from the collegiate level."
Players such as Wu Tongtong, Zhai Ruoyun and Liu Yutong have developed through this system, with some earning national team call-ups.
The team has also gradually shaped a new roster structure and playing style. Emphasizing bench depth and a balance between veterans and young players, Shanxi has introduced experienced players in key positions to complement its youthful core.
This approach has enabled the team to maintain rotation strength and tactical flexibility throughout the long season.
On the court, Shanxi plays a fast-paced offensive system combined with flexible team defense, placing a strong emphasis on coordination and teamwork.
To boost morale and accelerate development, the club has encouraged internal competition by giving players opportunities to earn playing time.
"We tell our players that minutes must be earned through performance," Zhang Jian said. "We also encourage them to take open shots without hesitation. If they score, the credit is theirs; if not, the responsibility lies with the coaching staff. This helps build confidence."
Within such an environment, the team has gradually developed cohesion and on-court chemistry.
"During games, we encourage each other and never complain. That sense of trust allows me to play freely," said 24-year-old newcomer Gao Jianjun.
"Results are outcomes, but growth is the core," Zhang said. "Only by respecting the rules of development, managing scientifically, and staying true to our principles can the team endure cycles and achieve new success." ■
