Shanghai returned home looking to extend the series and their season. For the first time in the series, Elizabeth Cambage could not be contained, which looked to be advancing the home team’s cause, but Sylvia Fowles matched her basket for basket. That helped Beijing utilize some of its domestic stars to come away with the 79-70 win and move on to the championship.
February 23, 2016
Shanghai vs. Beijing 70-79 SH Cambage 30/11r Shi 13 BJ Fowles 31/12r Gao 16
Beijing wins series 3-1
These results set up an interesting finals series. The matchup inside between Tina Charles and Sylvia Fowles will likely be the main focus, but with both players having excellent seasons, it may come down to contributions from domestic players. For Beijing, Shao Ting and Gao Song have been established in the league and may provide an edge. Xinjiang, on the other hand, has managed to assemble a strong group of players that have helped Charles all season long, impressively grabbing the top seed in their first try at this level. The home court advantage that they took by virtue of their regular season performances could also play a role in determining who wins as both teams face grueling travel between venues. With a new winner on the horizon, this season’s finals have a number of storylines to pay attention to before a champion is crowned.