BREAKING NEW WINDS…Myung-Kwan Lee Fills in for Hye-Jin Park

She broke everyone’s expectations.

Woori Bank Women’s Professional Basketball’s Lee Myung-kwan is improving day by day. She has become a key resource for Woori Bank, a team full of national team players. As a rookie, she wasn’t on anyone’s radar, but she took advantage of the opportunities that came her way.

During her time at Dankook University, Myung-kwan suffered an ACL injury before the draft. Most women’s basketball players enter the professional ranks after high school. Players coming out of college receive less attention, and a major injury pushed them down the draft board. In the end, Myung-kwan Lee 텍사스홀덤 was selected with the sixth pick in the third round of the 2019-2020 Korean Women’s Basketball League (WKBL) draft. She was given her chance little by little. She came off the bench and injected energy into the team. After three seasons with Samsung Life, Lee Myung-kwan was traded to Bang Boram in May to join Woori Bank.

He broke the stereotype of Woori head coach Lee Sat-woo. Lee Myung-kwan was unable to train properly in the offseason due to a plantar fasciitis injury. Woo, who has always emphasized the importance of the offseason, was forced to pull out his Myung-kwan card when Yoo Seung-hee left the team in the opening game with a ruptured cruciate ligament. Lee Myung-kwan more than lived up to expectations. On March 15 against Kookmin Bank, he hit a buzzer-beater to give Woori Bank the win. Even with Park Ji-soo in front of him, he calmly scored the winning basket.

Woori Bank is in crisis. Recently, Park Hye-jin was injured again. Park, who had left the team during the offseason and rejoined just before the start of the season to improve her form, suffered a knee injury on Nov. 11 and was given a six-week diagnosis. With a power vacuum, Wee has turned to Lee Myung-kwan. He showed his faith by giving her a starting spot.

His performance is reflected in his record. In 11 games this season, Lee has averaged 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27.2 minutes per game. He’s on pace for career highs in most metrics, including minutes, points, rebounds, and steals.

She also earns her first All-Star nod. In the WKBL All-Star voting, Lee is ranked 14th through the 17th, and if he finishes in the top 20, he’ll have a chance to play in his first All-Star game. His popularity has skyrocketed, as has his skill. “It’s amazing to be nominated for an All-Star. I feel like this moment is coming to me, and I’m honored,” he said.