TAIYUAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Sichuan overcame the absence of Elizabeth Cambage and Arike Ogunbowale in a 74-65 victory over Shanxi in Game 5 of the 2025-26 Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) finals on Saturday to capture its third title in franchise history.
Sichuan had won two consecutive WCBA titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24 season.
Leading by one point after three quarters, Shanxi was held to just two points in the opening eight minutes of the final period, coming up short in its quest for the fourth title.
Natasha Howard led Sichuan with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Backcourt duo Wang Siyu and Li Yuan scored 15 points apiece. Li was awarded the finals Most Valuable Player.
"Believe in ourselves. Without two overseas players, others had to step up," Li said after the win.
With Cambage sidelined by injury and Ogunbowale suspended after accumulating four technical fouls in the season, Sichuan was deprived of its formidable overseas trio, only seeing Howard in action.
The impact was immediately felt as Shanxi jumped out to a 9-2 start, while Howard led Sichuan back into contention and Cambage's replacement Xiao Tong contributed on the offensive end. After veteran forward Gao Song made a jumper with three minutes remaining, the visitors tied the game at 17-17. Howard's basket earned Sichuan its first lead at 23-21, before Zhang Ru scored four straight points late in the first quarter to move Shanxi back in front 25-24.
Howard opened the second period with five points in a row, while Song Kexin responded with four straight to level the score at 29-29.
Shanxi center Kalani Brown, who was held to just two points for more than one quarter, began to take center stage in the paint with consecutive baskets, and Shanxi capitalized on a 9-0 run to build a 40-35 halftime lead.
In a third quarter that featured several ties and lead changes, Marena Whittle gave Shanxi breathing room with a 3-pointer, while Tang Ziting's buzzer-beating layup helped Sichuan pull within 57-56 entering the final frame.
Both sides went without a field goal for over three minutes in the fourth quarter, before Wang made a breakaway layup to break the deadlock and Li followed with a three-pointer as Sichuan led 63-59 with four minutes to play.
Sichuan had a 12-0 surge, and Li's another shot from 3-point range gave Sichuan an 11-point lead with 1:30 remaining to all-but secure the win.
Shanxi's Shakira Austin had a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds. Song added 10 points. ■
