Aliyah Collier (L) of Dongguan goes for a lay-up as Han Xu of Sichuan defends at the 2024-2025 season Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) league finals in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
Dongguan outclassed Sichuan 81-65 in the fourth game of the finals on Sunday, winning the best-of-five series 3-1 to claim its second Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) league title.
After falling short in Chengdu on Thursday, a resolute Dongguan side didn't let the chance of adding another crown after the 2018-19 season slip away again on its home court. With a two-point lead after three quarters, Dongguan dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring Sichuan 25-11 to secure the championship.
Aliyah Collier led four Dongguan players in double figures with 21 points. Yang Liwei sank four 3-pointers for 20 points. Yang Shuyu and Chelsea Nelson chipped in with 13 and 11 points respectively. Yang Shuyu was named the finals MVP.
Aliyah Collier (R) of Dongguan vies with Li Meng of Sichuan during the 3rd match between Sichuan and Dongguan at the 2024-2025 season Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) league finals, April 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
In a tightly contested first quarter, Elizabeth Cambage made a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Sichuan trailed 16-18 at the end of the quarter.
Sichuan opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run to lead by eight points. However, with Yang Liwei leading the charge, Dongguan responded with a 14-3 surge, during which Yang scored seven points. Dongguan led 36-35 at halftime.
Collier and Huang Sijing made consecutive shots from beyond the arc late in the third quarter as Dongguan carried a 56-54 lead into the final period.
Yang connected on two consecutive 3-pointers as Dongguan began to pull away, establishing an eight-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Thanks to Sichuan's offensive struggles, the home side took control of the game afterward en route to a comfortable victory.
The defeat extinguished Sichuan's hopes of a three-peat title. Cambage contributed 21 points. Jonquel Jones scored 14 points, and Gao Song had 12.
