On January 30, 2025, the BNK women's basketball team clinched a dramatic victory against Woori Bank, defeating them 65-63 after two grueling overtimes. The intense match took place at the Busan Sajik Gymnasium, marking the first time this season the women’s league extended to double overtime. BNK's win not only showcased their resilience but also solidified their spot at the top of the standings, pushing aside previous two-game losses.
Kim Sonia emerged as the standout performer for BNK, scoring 31 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, delivering the kind of performance typical of champions. Iijima Saki also contributed significantly with 16 points and 7 rebounds, helping BNK establish its dominance, especially during the difficult stretches of the game. With this victory, BNK improved to 17 wins against 7 losses, rising independently to the top of the league.
Woori Bank entered the game desperate to end its seven-game losing streak, but their challenges were evident. The absence of effective playmakers—the point guards—left holes in their strategy, limiting offensive fluidity. Kim Jung-eun and Yang Jin-young gave commendable performances, recording double-doubles with 17 points and 15 rebounds, and 19 points and 11 rebounds respectively. Despite their efforts, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide against BNK.
Throughout the match, Woori Bank had the upper hand initially, leading 18-10 after the first quarter. BNK struggled to find its rhythm, yet Kim Sonia’s resurgence began early in the second quarter, when she single-handedly scored 8 points, bringing her team closer to 26-27 before heading to halftime trailing narrowly.
After the break, the third quarter saw BNK tightening its defense and scoring effectively with contributions from Iijima.S. After limiting Woori Bank to just 4 points, BNK jumped to lead 38-31. But Woori Bank remained relentless. Their comeback, spearheaded by Jin-young and Yuzuki Ishida, forced the game to remain close.
The final moments of regulation were electrifying; Woori Bank tied the game at 50-50 with just 11 seconds left, showcasing their unwillingness to yield. Yet, both teams were prepared for the overtimes to come.
During the first overtime, BNK capitalized on Kim Sonia’s early scoring spurt to lead 57-50. Woori Bank fought back through free throws courtesy of Jin-An, restoring parity and pushing the match to another overtime after tying again at 57-57 with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock.
The second overtime continued with both teams trading blows. Woori Bank managed to tie the game again at 63-63, but BNK’s strategy and stamina prevailed. Key moments included effective shots from An Hye-ji and timely rebounds, allowing BNK to maintain their slight edge until the final buzzer, winning by 2 points.
This latest victory reinforces BNK's status as title contenders and highlights the constraints Woori Bank continues to face as they remain at the bottom of the standings with only 5 wins out of 23 games played this season. The match not only displayed the highs and lows of both teams but set the stage for the remainder of the season with BNK firmly establishing itself as the team to watch.