Kim Huat's collective depth outlasts Loiter's 27-point heroics in two-point WNBL title thriller

Kim Huat captured the 2025-26 Singapore WNBL championship by the slimmest of margins, edging Hillcrest Grays 47-45 in a tense final in which collective basketball triumphed over individual brilliance.
Hillcrest's Ariel Loiter (165-G-2002, college: Colgate) did everything humanly possible to carry her team to the title 27 points on a scorching 11-of-15 from the field including three triples and a perfect 2-of-2 from the line for 29 efficiency. But she was effectively a one-woman show. No other Hillcrest player scored more than six, and the Grays' 31.6 percent team shooting reflected the supporting cast's inability to complement their star.
Kim Huat won with balance. Jia Min Lim led the champions with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds (five offensive) for a dominant double-double. Sharon Lee added 10 points on efficient 4-of-6 shooting, Choong-Si Sara (168-G-1992, college: McGill) contributed 10 points, and Valentia Wong Shuting had seven on 3-of-5 from the field. Alanna Lim (172-F/C-1994) Rui Jia was a force on the glass with six points and 12 rebounds (four offensive), giving Kim Huat a commanding 49-34 rebounding advantage the statistic that ultimately decided the championship.
Kim Huat's 17 offensive rebounds generated crucial second-chance opportunities in a game where neither side shot well from the perimeter (both teams 4-of-16 and 4-of-22 from three respectively). The champions' 11 assists to Hillcrest's seven reflected the ball movement that created enough open looks to squeeze past a Grays side that relied too heavily on Loiter's individual genius.
In the third-place game, Siglap cruised past Proform 75-40 behind a balanced team effort. Kimberly Tay led with 13 points on four three-pointers, while Claudia Tan posted 11 points and 10 rebounds and Edna Lim (1995) had nine points and 15 rebounds (10 offensive). Priscilla Han MeiQi added 10 points and nine rebounds and Seika Otake scored 10 efficient points. For Proform, Byeolha Chang) led with 21 but shot 7-of-17 in a lonely effort.