Howard carries Sichuan to third WCBA title with gutsy road win in decisive Game 5

Howard Natasha (188-F-1991, college: FSU, agency: LBM Management) delivered a commanding 22-point, 12-rebound double-double as Sichuan Shudao Yuanda overcame the absence of injured star Cambage Elizabeth (205-C-1991) to stun Shanxi Zhuyeqing Jiu 74-65 on their home floor in the decisive Game 5 of the WCBA Finals on Saturday night, clinching a third championship in four seasons.
Sichuan, appearing in the finals for a fifth consecutive year under French head coach Frederic Dusart, won the best-of-five series 3-2 in the most dramatic fashion imaginable — seizing the title on the road without Australian center Cambage, who had been injured in a collision during Game 4 on Wednesday. Without their dominant inside presence, Sichuan leaned on Howard and a collective defensive effort that smothered Shanxi down the stretch. The first half belonged to the hosts. Shanxi led 25-24 after a tense, physical opening quarter and extended the advantage to 40-35 at halftime as Austin Shakira (196-F-1999, college: Ole Miss) asserted herself inside. But the third quarter proved pivotal once again in this series. Sichuan outscored Shanxi 21-17 in the period, pulling level at 56-57 heading into the fourth, and then delivered a suffocating 18-8 final quarter that broke Shanxi's resistance. Mika Haakana's side managed just eight points in the final 10 minutes as Sichuan's defense clamped down. Howard was magnificent throughout, going 10-of-23 from the field with nine two-point baskets while hauling in 10 defensive rebounds. Siyu Wang (175-G-1995) was the clutch performer, scoring 15 points — including a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the free-throw line — with four assists and two steals in 24 minutes. Player No. 2 added 15 points with three triples and six rebounds. As a team, Sichuan shot 82.4 percent from the charity stripe (14-of-17) compared to Shanxi's 66.7 percent — a critical edge in a tight game — and forced 18 turnovers while committing just 11.
For Shanxi, Austin led with 18 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in a tireless effort, but shot just 6-of-17 from the field and went 6-of-11 from the free-throw line. Song Kexin (173-G-1963) added 10 points and four assists but struggled from the floor at 2-of-10. Brown Kalani (201-C-1997, college: Baylor), whose 34-point eruption on 15-of-18 shooting had powered Shanxi's Game 4 victory and forced the decider, was unable to replicate that performance. Shanxi shot just 35.4 percent overall (23-of-65) and a dismal 5-of-15 from three-point range.
The series had swung wildly after Sichuan's dominant 95-61 Game 1 blowout in Chengdu. Shanxi responded with a Game 2 home victory to level the series before Sichuan retook control with a 75-53 win in Game 3, powered by Cambage's 29 points and 10 rebounds. Shanxi then forced the decider through Brown's heroics and Cambage's injury in Game 4 — an 87-80 victory in which Arike Ogunbowale was ejected after two technical fouls. That Sichuan still prevailed in the decider, on the road and missing key personnel, speaks to the depth and resilience of Dusart's program.
The title is Sichuan's third overall (after 2022-23 and 2023-24) and cements the club's status as the WCBA's dominant force of the decade.