This year's WCBA season has been nothing short of a spectacular show, especially with the performance of the Shanxi women's basketball team, which has truly caught everyone's attention and can be considered a dark horse among dark horses!
Who could have predicted the rise of this team? During the off-season, they lost key players like Wu Tongtong and Fu Jinqiu, particularly Wu Tongtong, who is not just any player but also one of the mainstays of the national team.
Despite the doubts surrounding their potential decline following these departures, Shanxi Women's Basketball Team not only held their ground but became even more formidable. With a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, they firmly occupy the second position in the regular season standings, closely following the Sichuan Women's Basketball Team.
Their rapid improvement has left me, as an observer, wanting to applaud them; it's as if they've taken growth hormones and shot up in strength!
The addition of these new foreign players has significantly bolstered the Shanxi team's capabilities. Mitchell, a WNBA All-Star, brings a high-level playing style that has injected fresh blood into the Shanxi team.
Nelson, who performed exceptionally well with the Guangdong Women's Basketball Team last season, quickly became a valuable asset to Shanxi.
Moldro, though a new face, has provided the Shanxi team with additional tactical options, elevating an already strong team to even greater heights. It's akin to a double-edged sword, cutting through opponents with precision.
In contrast, the Sichuan Women's Basketball Team has remained as stable as an old dog this season, maintaining a perfect undefeated record of 15 wins and 0 losses, firmly holding onto the top spot in the regular season standings, leaving no room for other teams.
What's most astonishing is that the Sichuan team, an all-Chinese lineup, has managed to stay on top without relying on foreign players, which is truly impressive.
The head coach, Milos, has mentioned that the biggest opponent for the Sichuan team is actually themselves. Could it be that internal issues are at play?
It's no wonder, given the team's deep strength and默契配合, they've really suffocated their opponents.
To break the Sichuan team's undefeated streak, it seems that other teams will need to step up their game.
However, the performance of traditional powerhouses has been quite surprising.
The Inner Mongolia Women's Basketball Team and the Guangdong Women's Basketball Team have shown some低迷this season.
Last year, the Inner Mongolia team achieved a super-strong record of 32 wins and 2 losses, securing the league runner-up title. How did they suddenly stumble this year? Their record now stands at 9 wins and 6 losses, ranking sixth in Group A, leaving many puzzled.
As for the Guangdong team, one of last year's top four, they haven't been able to maintain their momentum this season, with a record of 10 wins and 5 losses, placing them fifth in Group A. It feels like their star players from last year have lost focus.
Both teams have foreign players, with the Inner Mongolia team having two and the Guangdong team having three. However, the impact of these foreign players hasn't been fully realized, instead being surpassed by the Shanxi and Shanghai teams, which is somewhat disheartening.
Speaking of the Shanghai Women's Basketball Team, they've relied heavily on their foreign players this season, steadily improving their performance. The outstanding displays by their foreign players have gradually improved the team's record, demonstrating the significant role of foreign players.
Especially when the Inner Mongolia and Guangdong teams have lost their former glory, the Shanghai team has continued to progress with the support of their foreign players, proving the saying: "Other teams' foreign players are just that, but our foreign players are the backbone!"
As for the five strong teams heading into the playoffs, the suspense and drama are palpable.
While the Sichuan team remains at the top, the Shanxi team has quietly climbed to second place, with the Shanghai team catching up. The Inner Mongolia and Guangdong teams need a phoenix-like rebirth.
The clashes between these five teams are destined to be dramatic, and it's uncertain who will come out on top.
Some netizens say: "With Sichuan Women's Basketball Team in their current form, it's really hard to beat them. Other teams need to step up!"
Especially the Shanxi team, which is almost catching up. If they continue to perform like this in future games, we might end up cheering for them!
Another netizen highly praised the Shanxi team: "The performance of the Shanxi Women's Basketball Team is astonishing. They lost Wu Tongtong but managed to assemble an even stronger lineup. The addition of three foreign players has been a real shot in the arm!"
If they can maintain this form, the playoffs are anyone's guess!
Another netizen pointed out the underperformance of Inner Mongolia and Guangdong: "You'd think the Guangdong Women's Basketball Team and the Inner Mongolia Women's Basketball Team were flying high last year, but how did they mess up this year? They have plenty of foreign players and a strong team, so why aren't they performing?"
It doesn't quite make sense.
The last netizen also mentioned: "Shanghai Women's Basketball Team is getting stronger this year, especially the foreign players' performances are eye-catching. They often step up in critical moments of almost every game. It must be said that the role of foreign players is crucial."
The playoffs are drawing near, and the clashes between these five championship contenders are sure to be fiery. It's unclear who will ultimately claim victory, making it all the more exciting to anticipate.
Will the unbeaten record of the Sichuan Women's Basketball Team be broken?
Can the Shanxi Women's Basketball Team continue their dark horse spirit?
Will the Shanghai Women's Basketball Team overtake through the use of foreign players?
Can the Inner Mongolia Women's Basketball Team and the Guangdong Women's Basketball Team adjust their states and return to their peaks?
These questions are worth paying close attention to.
The upcoming matches are bound to be thrilling, and it's uncertain who will emerge victorious!