Hayashi Saki's six triples earn MVP as Team Sirius edge Antares 101-100 in W League All-Star thriller

Team Sirius survived a dramatic finale to beat Team Antares 101-100 in the 2025-26 W League All-Star Game at the National Yoyogi Stadium Second Gymnasium on May 3, closing the curtain on the Japanese women's basketball season with a showcase that delivered entertainment from tip to buzzer.
Fujitsu Red Wave sharpshooter Saki Hayashi (173-G-1995) was named MVP after a scorching 6-of-8 performance from three-point range that powered Sirius' comeback. The long-range specialist caught fire in the fourth quarter Sirius outscored Antares 30-23 in the final period to overturn a deficit and snatch victory at the wire.
The game was a product of a revamped selection process. For the first time, the league scrapped its recommendation system entirely, with all 30 participants chosen exclusively through fan voting via the W League Card Collection service, BasketLIVE, and the official W League website. Japan national team star Rui Machida (162-PG-1993) of Fujitsu topped the ballot with 35,768 votes, while retiring ENEOS Sunflowers guard Saori Miyazaki (167-SG-1995) playing her final professional game finished second with 20,785.
Antares attempted to script a fairytale ending for Miyazaki, feeding her the ball throughout and angling for both victory and an MVP award for the beloved veteran. But Hayashi's fourth-quarter barrage from beyond the arc spoiled those plans. Miyazaki was consoled with the MIP (Most Impressive Player) award in recognition of her career contributions.
The teams were split by fan-vote ranking odd-numbered finishers (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th) formed Team Sirius' starting five, all from Fujitsu, while even-numbered finishers comprised Antares' starters.
In the Skills Challenge held alongside the All-Star festivities, ENEOS' Kokoro Tanaka (173-SG-2006) fresh off her WNBA draft selection the previous month took the title.