The Shanghai Baoshan Women secured a hard-fought 74–69 victory over the Dalian Women in their China Women's National Championship Basketball clash on 21 July 2026 at 19:30. The match, played in a packed arena, saw Shanghai overcome a gritty Dalian side that refused to back down until the final buzzer. The win strengthens Shanghai’s position in the standings, while Dalian will look to regroup after a spirited but unsuccessful comeback attempt.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams showed intense defensive pressure. Shanghai Baoshan, known for their disciplined half-court offence, managed to establish an early lead with sharp perimeter shooting. Dalian, however, responded with aggressive drives to the basket and second-chance points on the offensive glass. The first quarter ended 18–16 in favour of Shanghai. The second quarter saw Dalian’s defence tighten, forcing several Shanghai turnovers, but the visitors’ bench depth allowed them to maintain a narrow 35–33 advantage at halftime.

Key Moments in the Second Half

The third quarter proved decisive. Shanghai’s starting point guard, Chen Wei, orchestrated a 10–2 run midway through the period, hitting a three-pointer and setting up teammates for easy layups. Dalian struggled to contain the pick-and-roll, and Shanghai extended their lead to 56–48 by the end of the third. Dalian mounted a furious rally in the fourth quarter, sparked by power forward Li Meng, who scored eight consecutive points to cut the deficit to three points with two minutes remaining. However, Shanghai’s composure under pressure shone through: shooting guard Zhang Yufei nailed a crucial mid-range jumper and then made two free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the game.

Standout Players

• Zhang Yufei (Shanghai Baoshan Women): The shooting guard led all scorers with 22 points, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. Her clutch free throws and defensive rebounds were vital in the closing stages.
• Chen Wei (Shanghai Baoshan Women): The point guard finished with 14 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Her ability to control the tempo and find open teammates kept Dalian’s defence off-balance.
• Li Meng (Dalian Women): The forward posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Her relentless energy on both ends kept Dalian in the game until the final quarter.
• Wang Fang (Dalian Women): A steady presence at point guard, she contributed 12 points and 6 assists, but her turnovers in the final two minutes proved costly.

Tactical Battle

Dalian focused on inside scoring and offensive rebounding, holding a 38–32 edge in points in the paint. Shanghai, conversely, relied on perimeter shooting and ball movement, hitting 10 three-pointers to Dalian’s 5. The game turned on Shanghai’s ability to execute in the half-court offence during the third quarter, while Dalian’s defence faltered in transition. Free-throw shooting also played a role: Shanghai converted 16 of 20 attempts (80%), compared to Dalian’s 11 of 18 (61%).

Season Impact

With this win, Shanghai Baoshan Women improve their record to 12–4, keeping them in the top four of the China Women’s National Championship Basketball standings. Dalian, now 9–7, remain in the playoff race but must sharpen their late-game execution if they hope to advance deep into the postseason. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in late August, a game that could have significant implications for seeding.