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Cheongju KB Stars' Heo Ye-eun set to shine in chase for WKBL trophy

Published: 02 Apr. 2026, 17:24

Cheongju KB Stars point guard Heo Ye-eun, right, dribbles during a WKBL game against Busan BNK Sum at Sajik Gymnasium in Busan on March 30. [YONHAP]

Cheongju KB Stars point guard Heo Ye-eun proved throughout the 2025-26 WKBL regular season that her height does not limit her impact on the court as she played an integral role in leading the squad to the regular season title.

The Stars secured the top spot on the six-team table after beating Busan BNK Sum 94-69 on Monday, finishing the regular season with 21 wins and nine losses.

Heo, at 1.65 meters tall (5 feet, 5 inches tall), has proven her impact on a court crowded with taller players.

The Stars' trio of Heo, Park Ji-su and Kang Lee-seul formed one of the league’s most powerful combinations this season. Heo led the offense, creating chances for Park and Kang.

Heo also led the WKBL in assists with an average of 6.67 per game, performing consistently even while Park was sidelined due to injury.

Heo's form comes in her seventh year in the league, where she started her career by joining the Stars in the 2019-20 draft.

The 24-year-old first started basketball as a hobby when she was a fourth grader. Now, as a pro herself, she finds inspiration from the NBA.

Cheongju KB Stars point guard Heo Ye-eun, second from left, dribbles during a WKBL game against Busan BNK Sum at Sajik Gymnasium in Busan on March 30. [YONHAP]

“Basketball is tough, but I enjoy it so much that I have kept playing,” Heo said during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo in March. “Watching NBA games is not work for me. I used to like Trae Young [of the Washington Wizards], but my favorite player now is Darius Garland [of the Los Angeles Clippers]. I try to copy how Garland breaks down defenders one-on-one.”

Her stats this season prove that height is only a number, as her 3-point shooting percentage rose to 37.3 percent this season, ranking third in the WKBL.

“Heo Ye-eun is a very driven player,” Stars head coach Kim Wan-soo said. “She improves every year.”

Heo has bigger goals than merely playing well in the WKBL.

“Players like Mai Yamamoto and Rui Machida in Japan are also not tall, but they perform at a world-class level,” Heo said. “I still have many goals, and I want to perform better with the national team.”

A chance to win the WKBL championship trophy now awaits Heo and the Stars, with the postseason tipping off on April 8.

“I feel disappointed that we only secured the regular season title in the final game,” Heo said. “I want to dominate in the playoffs and the championship series.”

The top four teams from the regular season will compete in a best-of-five playoff series, with the winners reaching the best-of-five championship. The Stars clinched the championship title twice in 2019 and 2022.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY LEE HAY-JUNE [[email protected]]