"VAN" (Sports Desk - 26.10.2026) :: Denso ushered in a new era in the FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia by beating Sichuan Yuanda Meile in the 2026 Final, 81-63, on Sunday night at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium.
Maki Takada finished with 23 points as the veteran internationalist showed the way for the Iris in foiling the Pandas' bid of winning another championship while they became the first team from Japan to win it all.
Haruna Kasagi came through with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals as she helped out in the third-quarter charge toward commanding 66-48 lead entering the fourth, breaking the game wide open.
Mai Kawai delivered 13 points alongside 4 rebounds and 6 assists, while Senegalese forward Sokhna Sylla added 10 points and 5 rebounds as their efforts helped Denso complete a 4-game sweep of the Bengaluru meet.
"Four years ago, we had zero trophies. Now we won a cup, a championship, and this is the cherry on top," said Denso head coach Vladimir Vuksanovic, mighty proud of their turnaround from contenders to champions.
Meanwhile, Cathay Life secured a spot in the podium by beating Cheongju KB in the Third-Place Game, 73-68, behind Shelby Cheslek's first-ever league triple-double with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists.
FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia 2026 final standings:
1. Denso Iris
2. Sichuan Yuanda Meile
3. Cathay Life Tigers
4. Cheongju KB Stars
5. Akari Sparks
6. Indian Railways
Fearless guard crowned the best of 'em all
Haruna Kasagi witnessed her consistent play get rewarded aptly after taking home Most Valuable Player honors in the FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia (WBL Asia) 2026 on Sunday night.
The feisty point guard earned the competition's highest individual honor after playing a key role in Denso's ascension to the top by dominating inaugural champions Sichuan Yuanda Meile in the Final, 81-63.
Formerly of the Japan youth team, the 27-year-old delivered 15 points in the title bout, including 6 in the third quarter alone as she helped the Iris break away for good toward completing a sweep of the tournament.
Kasagi shot 6-of-8 from the floor, and also collected 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals as her all-around efforts ultimately enabled the W League champions to begin a new reign in Asia's premier women's club tilt.
A major force behind their sweep of Group B with back-to-back 20-point games, she finished the tournament with averages of 18.3 points on 67.4-percent shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 3.0 steals in 4 games.
By winning MVP, Kasagi led the tournament's All-Star Five, in which she was joined by veteran teammate Maki Takada, the Pandas tandem of Sara Blicavs and Song Gao, and Shelby Cheslek of Cathay Life.
One of the tournament's most established figures, the 37-year-old Takada picked it up as the tournament progressed and finished with per-game norms of 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
That included a 23-point performance in the Final, submitting easily her best game of the Bengaluru showpiece in yet another testament to her importance as a stabilizing presence for the proud ball club.
Cheslek earned her spot after a splendid Final Phase, in which she notched the first-ever WBL Asia triple-double with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists to help the Tigers finish third by beating Cheongju KB, 73-68.
The former Gonzaga Bulldog finished the event with impressive per-game averages of 12.3 points, a tournament-best 11.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists, plus 1.3 steals and a block in a solid display of versatility.
Blicavs and Song, on the other hand, were pivotal in bringing the Pandas back to the Final. Blicavs led the tilt with 22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, while Song finished with 14.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
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