In a high-stakes showdown in Chengdu, the Sichuan women's basketball team kept their championship hopes alive with a decisive 96-77 victory over Dongguan in Game 3 of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) Finals on Thursday. Facing elimination in the best-of-five series, Sichuan delivered a first-half masterclass to electrify their home crowd.
Defending Champions Fight Back
Sichuan exploded with a 19-2 opening run, fueled by strategic lineup changes from coach Milos Paden. Star player Li Meng led all scorers with 24 points, while WNBA veteran Jonquel Jones added 22 points and 11 rebounds. The hosts maintained a 23-point halftime advantage despite Dongguan's late rally attempt.
Coaching Gambit Pays Off
"We finally played our signature basketball – aggressive defense and rapid transitions," said Paden after implementing three roster changes. Starting trio Gao Song, Jia Saiqi, and Zhang Manman injected fresh energy, helping build a 32-18 first-quarter lead through a 17-0 scoring burst.
Dongguan Vows Home-Court Response
Despite Aliyah Collier's team-high 21 points for Dongguan, the visitors couldn't overcome Sichuan's early dominance. Player-coach Huang Sijing remained optimistic: "We'll regroup and showcase our best basketball in Game 4." The series now moves to Dongguan for Sunday's critical matchup, with Sichuan aiming to force a decisive Game 5.
