South Korea Women’s Basketball Wins Gold at 2026 Asian Games After 12 Years
Led by Park Soo-ho, the South Korean women’s basketball national team defeated Japan 75-70 in the final at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya on September 26, 2026, capturing their first Asian Games gold medal in 12 years and the fifth in program history.
Championship Run and the Final Match Against Japan
The victory on September 26 capped an undefeated tournament run at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. South Korea opened group play on September 18 with a win over Malaysia, followed by victories against Mongolia and Taiwan to sweep the preliminary round 3-0. In the quarterfinals, South Korea defeated Indonesia before facing a tough test against China in the semifinals. Facing the defending powerhouse, South Korea erased a deficit through three quarters and secured an 85-80 win in the final moments to reach the championship game.
In the gold medal matchup against Japan, South Korea built a commanding 43-23 advantage by halftime, outplaying the world No. 9 squad early with aggressive defense and transition scoring. However, the world No. 14 South Korean side faced a fierce second-half surge. Japan chipped away at the deficit during the third quarter and narrowed the gap to 72-70 in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. South Korea held firm under late-game pressure, extending the margin back to five points to seal the 75-70 victory.
Broader Context of South Korean Basketball Success
The triumph marks South Korea’s first women’s basketball gold medal since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, and adds to previous titles won in Bangkok in 1978, Beijing in 1990, and Hiroshima in 1994. The 2026 tournament proved to be a historic multi-medal sweep for South Korean basketball across disciplines. The men’s national team also claimed gold by defeating Japan in their respective final, while the men’s 3×3 team won their division’s first-ever gold medal, accompanied by a medal-winning performance from the women’s 3×3 squad.
Japanese Media and Team Reactions
Japanese media outlets extensively covered the defeat, highlighting the narrow margin that separated the young Japanese squad from the top of the podium. According to TBS News Digital, Higuchi hit a three-pointer to pull Japan within two points with 15 seconds remaining, but the team could not complete the comeback. Basketball King reported that despite erasing a 19-point deficit to come within four points with six minutes remaining, Japan fell short of securing what would have been their first gold medal in 28 years since the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, settling instead for their second silver medal.
Sponichi Annex noted that Japan attempted a late foul strategy with 15 seconds left on the clock, but ultimately ran out of momentum. Daily Sports emphasized that the young Japanese roster fought until the final whistle, forcing a two-point margin before South Korea pulled away. The Digest reported that Japan successfully converted one of two free throws to make it 70-72 with 15 seconds left, but failed to crack South Korea’s defensive stance. Sports Hochi added that both the men’s and women’s Japanese national teams returned home with silver medals after falling to South Korea in their respective tournament finals.
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