TOKYO (Japan) – Corey Gaines officially took over as the head coach of the Japanese women’s National Team with the immediate aim of reclaiming the top prize at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 at Shenzhen, but with a long-term aim of reclaiming lost glory in international competitions beyond Asia.
Japanese women reigned supreme winning an unprecedented five titles in a row, and were heading well towards a record sixth championship win on the trot, when they were stopped in their tracks by archrivals China – with a 73-75 defeat – in the Final of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023.
That defeat, combined with a rather disappointing performance by the Japanese women’s team at the Paris Olympics 2024 – where they lost all their games in the Prelim Round (having won a historic silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years earlier – continues to rankle badly in the minds of the fans and serious followers of Japanese women’s basketball.
A sentiment that was reflected by Gaines in his press conference on Monday as he officially took the reins.
“Since 2009, we have built the standard for the Japan Women's National Team, and we became a team recognized as a strong competitor on the world stage, earning the respect (of international basketball fans). However, at this moment, the standard has slightly declined, and I want to raise it again,” the 59-year-old was candid in his interaction with the media, as reported on the JBA website.
“I came to Japan in 1998 as a player (for Japan Energy in the then Japan League) and that was a turning point in my life. And Japan is my second home,” said Gaines, who till recently was assistant to Tom Hovasse in the Japanese men’s team.
“In 2009, I was asked to help change the playing style of the Japan Women's Basketball National Team, and I supported them in different ways and also with workouts in the United States. It is because of that connection that I am grateful to have been appointed as the Head Coach this time,” said Gaines, who coached Phoenix Mercury to the 2009 WNBA title.
“Everyone has different goals, but our goal, my goal, is to get back to that standard. We get back to that standard and everything will fall back in line,” he said referring to the epochal reign of Japanese women in Asian basketball.
“I know it’s going to be a challenge and it will take time, but if the JBA and the Japan Women's National Team work together, I believe we can definitely achieve it,” he added.
He also set the standards for his players and gave clear indication of indices for his roster.
“What I expect from the players are high energy, consistency, and playing hard. I will be looking for players who possess these three qualities to build a team,” he said.
“I would describe my basketball style as ‘organized chaos’. I think the way basketball is played now, suits basketball players from Japan well. Speed, pace, space, shooting the three, I think it’s everything that Japan Women’s National team brings and we can even do better. Basketball is always evolving so things are always changing, so we have to evolve at the time,” he said.
FIBA