Lee Hae-ran scores career-high 34 points as Samsung Life down Hana Bank 83-74 in WKBL playoff semifinal

Hae-Ran Lee (180-C-2003) delivered the performance of her career with 34 points as Yongin Samsung Life Bluemings defeated Bucheon Hana Bank 83-74 in Game 2 of the BNK Financial 2025-2026 WKBL (Women's Korean Basketball League) semifinal playoff series at Bucheon Gymnasium on Friday. The 34-point haul surpassed Lee's previous career-high of 32 points, set earlier this season against Shinhan Bank, and marks the second time in the 2025-26 campaign that the fifth-year guard has broken her own scoring record. Lee was aggressive from the opening tip and engaged in a compelling individual battle with Hana Bank's Saki Iijima in the third quarter, holding her own and keeping Samsung Life in control throughout the contest. The performance was a dramatic turnaround from Game 1, where Lee admitted she had struggled with confidence. Speaking after the victory, she reflected candidly on the difference between the two games. "In the last game, I was running away. I think I was scared," Lee said. "I couldn't show my performance and I felt sorry to my teammates. Today, I realized that being greedy with my own offense wasn't working, so I looked to set up my teammates first — and then my own scoring came easily." She added that her passive play in Game 1, where she avoided physical contact and simply passed the ball away, had cost the team connecting plays and ultimately contributed to the defeat. "I thought about that and came out aggressively today," she said. Lee credited head coach's instructions to play freely, and acknowledged her teammates for creating the opportunities that led to her historic night. "I think this is the game of my life. I'm in my fifth year, and my teammates helped me produce a game like this. I'm grateful to them." The guard also addressed her late-season slump — three poor performances down the stretch that cost her the scoring title and a Best Five selection despite an otherwise outstanding campaign. "I won't say those awards were taken from me — I lost them because I didn't perform," she said. "But I think those three games are the reason I was able to play so well today." Samsung Life's road victory keeps their championship hopes alive as the semifinal series continues.