NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – It might be quite some time until the basketball authorities in China get the balance they need between domestic and foreign players when it comes to the WCBA.

Although rather than a numerical or quality argument around the number of imports in future years, one of the questions that intrigues me, is how the WCBA can address a clear imbalance between the frontcourt and backcourt?

As the WCBA enters this season’s Play-Offs [and in the wake of last weekend's All-Star Game], the scoring and rebounding charts are completely dominated by import players. Incredibly, there is not a single homegrown Chinese player in any of those respective top ten spots.

The scoring charts are dominated by ‘bigs’ as they clean up in what remains a generally smaller league than most - and one with domestic post players whose game is [in general] a long way behind those they are competing against.

Therefore signing players for under the basket or who can do damage coming in from the wings, is the priority for almost all of the WCBA teams and that is where the cash is spent. The impact is huge and the names currently occupying the chart are impressive. Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, Chiney Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Bone gives you the picture. There are also other All-Star imports in the WCBA such as Belarusian favorite - Yelena Leuchanka.

We all understand the Asian women’s game at international level can be generally characterised [but not exclusively] by guard-dominated play, quickness and shooting ability. There has always been a better mix when it comes to China whose success has been due to them at least being competitive in the paint, but the main ingredients still remain.

That is highlighted by a glance at the WCBA’s chart for steals and assists where the influence of Chinese players is much more potent and the contrast is enormous. Indeed the top seven spots for assists are all Chinese players, with Ji Yan Yan leading the way with more than four per game.

When it comes to steals, it’s a balanced picture between domestic and import players right through the chart. I am guessing that in an ideal world, the WCBA would prefer this kind of mixed economy in all of its statistical categories.

It feels a little bit like chicken and egg.

How can the WCBA raise its profile and not limit the prospects of Chinese frontcourt players if foreign players are dominating? Or, do young homegrown players actually benefit from practicing each day against these world renowned bigs?

The irony is that China’s top senior team stars are essentially forwards in Shao Ting and Sun Mengran, while one of the most promising rising stars is towering center Han Xu who starred at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship last year.

When watching the WCBA, it remains slightly worrying to me that overall, the pattern is one of Chinese players feeding the ball to these import forwards and centers. It feels one-dimensional – even if there is a sprinkling of quality Chinese forwards.

In time, it may correct itself, but I do think that maybe the old chestnut about ‘how many foreigners?’ is being superseded by the questions about the roles being fulfilled by imports.

Then again, perhaps the influence of Charles, Ogwumike, Fowles, and Co will mean that any Chinese girls with decent size might be inspired to play under the hoop.

Time will tell.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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