Golden starlets of the FIBA Women's Asian U16, Pt. 2

AMMAN (Jordan) - Previously, we took a trip down memory lane and listed some of the players who began their journeys in previous editions of the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship.

From established names like Li Meng and Saori Miyazaki to the younger ones such as Charlisse Leger-Walker and Yada Srirahaksa, we were served yet another reminder of how the biennial continental youth competition could become an effective springboard towards success.

Now, we'll take a look at some more players from past U16 tournaments - some of which have morphed into stars in their own right - in this second and last part of our look-back.

Kang Lee Seul

Kang Lee Seul shook the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup last year when she erupted for 37 points to lead to Korea to their first WWC win in 12 years following a 99-66 rout of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 29-year-old winger shot 61.9-percent from the field, including a 7-of-14 clip from beyond the arc. She also registered 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals on the way to an efficiency rating of 44, surpassing the all-time record of 41 set by Liz Cambage in the 2018 edition in Spain. 

It was indeed one of Kang's finest moments in her national team career, which all began in the 2009 U16 tournament in China that saw the Koreans finish fourth in the inaugural meet.

Currently with the Cheongju KB Stars in the WKBL, Kang has been a national team mainstay since joining the seniors team in 2014. Among her many tours of duty include three Women's World Cup appearances, four FIBA Women's Asia Cup stints, and a run in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Yang Liwei

Yang Liwei was just 14 years young when she became part of the China team that conquered the inaugural U16 Women's Asian Championship in 2009 in sweeping fashion.

Since then, the 1.76 M (5'9") guard would be a key figure for the red-and-gold. After a total of three Women's Basketball World Cup trips in the youth level that included back-to-back U19 appearances in 2011 and 2013, she eventually made her way into the seniors team.

Formerly of the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA, Yang so far has won two Women's Asia Cup silver medals and another silver from last year's Women's World Cup.

Li Yueru

Li Yueru debuted in the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship 2015 and she wasted no time introducing herself to the international stage following a campaign so impressive.

Team China bagged home the gold medal by sweeping the tournament and Li was a major force behind it. She dropped 31 and 18 in their 95-72 rout of Japan in the Final, finishing the tourney as its best scorer with 22.1 points and 16.1 rebounds with an efficiency rating of 27.7.

Li would see action in the FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship the following year, and would play another major role in the Chinese squad's fourth straight golden finish, with averages of 15.9 points and 13.9 rebounds for a fitting conclusion to her youth team career.

The 2.0 M (6'7") center would see herself in the seniors' team in 2017. So far, the WNBA player has been to the Women's World Cup twice, the Women's Asia Cup thrice, and the Olympics in 2021.

Stephanie Mawuli

Stephanie Mawuli was part of the silver-winning Japan team in the U16 Women's Asian tilt in 2013 and that proved to be the beginning of what's been a fruitful national team career thus far.

Also a U18 silver medalist, the younger sister of veteran internationalist Evelyn already has a Women's Asia Cup title in her collection since becoming part of the seniors team in 2021. She could add another should they rule the continental meet anew that's going on in Sydney right now,

One more sterling piece she's extremely proud of, surely, is the gold medal she won after powering the Japanese to the top of the FIBA 3x3 U19 World Cup 2019 in China.

No doubt the 1.82 M (6'0") forward, who's currently part of Spanish ball club Movistar Estudiantes, will have plenty more senior caps moving forward - both in 5-on-5 and in the halfcourt.

Isla Juffermans

Australia immediately became a force to be reckoned upon arriving in the U16 Women's Asian Championship in 2017 and Isla Juffermans made sure to help out in sustaining that success.

The 1.94 M (6'4") center helped the Sapphires go back-to-back in last year's edition in Amman, averaging 19.7 points and 12.2 rebounds with 28.0 EFF to lead her side to a tournament sweep.

She would continue her fine play in the U17 Women's Basketball World Cup months later with numbers of 12.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per outing, before capping off a solid 2022 with yet another noteworthy performance in the U18 Women's Asian Championship in India.

There, she posted 17.0 markers and 11.0 boards as the Aussies won their first title in the said tournament while she ran away with Most Valuable Player honors.

Yuki Miyazawa

Yuki Miyazawa is among Team Japan's most bemedaled women, with an Olympic silver medal and four Women's Asia Cup gold medals in her basketball resumé.

Yes, she got all that even before turning 30. Needless to say, it's been a triumphant ride with the Akatsuki thus far for her, with the goal to add even more to her collection.

Quite an international career for someone who began representing her country in the maiden U16 competitions in 2009, where she was a key figure in their silver finish.

That solid campaign would serve as a prelude to her rousing introduction to a much bigger stage. She emerged as one of the best players in the first-ever FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in 2010, averaging 21.6 points and 9.2 rebounds as Japan finished fifth.

Aika Hirashita

Aika Hirashita has been part of the Japan women's seniors team since last year and she definitely earned her spot after proving her mettle in the youth level.

The 1.77 M (5'10") shooting guard was a vital cog of the squad that bagged home the silver medal in the 2017 U16 Women's Asian showpiece. There, she averaged 13.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assist with 15.7 EFF rating to make her first FIBA experience one to cherish.

She'd then see action in the U17 Women's World Cup the following year and in the U19 Women's World Cup in 2021, where she put up norms of 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.

*Note: Some of the players aforementioned are taking part in the ongoing FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney, Australia. To see how they've been doing, click here.

FIBA