October 16, 2016
The season started on Sunday with the first of a grueling four game in eight day stretch for all 12 teams. A number of the league’s big name foreign players have not arrived yet. As with last season, the twelve teams will split regionally for the first double round robin.
South:
Neither team had a foreign player, denying us what will probably be a game to watch by the end of the season as Guangdong beat Shanghai 66-58. Stefanie Dolson brought some immediate spice to Sichuan as they beat Shandong 88-69. The ability to call on Chiney Ogwumike was the difference for Henan as they defeated army team Bayi 77-66.
Guangdong vs. Shanghai 66-58 GD Zhang 17 Huang 16 Yang 14 SH Huang 16/7r Gong 15 Xun 10/10r
Sichuan vs. Shandong 88-69 SC Dolson 33/19r Cao 14 Wang 12 Guo 10 SD Cao 18 Yang 14 Wang 12/9r
Bayi vs. Henan 66-77 81 Sun MR 19/7r Sun MX 13/7r Pan 13 HA Ogwumike 22/7r Sun 18 Huang 15/7s
North:
Kelsey Bone had a solid debut for Liaoning, but Shi Xiufeng and Beijing still took care of business without a foreign player in a 72-62 win. Military team Shenyang is used to not relying on foreigners and they had a good start at Heilongjiang as Jin Jiabao led them past Ji Yanyan and company 83-68. Jewell Loyd had a good start to her season as she led Shangxi to a 94-84 win in Xinjiang as neither team is likely to have the same roster by the end of the season. The shooting of Peng Shiqing nearly kept the hosts in the game.
Beijing vs. Liaoning 72-62 BJ Shi 20/6a Gao 13/10r LN Bone 23/13r Liang 14
Heilongjiang vs. Shenyang 68-83 HL Ji 22 Langhorne 14/7r Zhang 14 Cao 12 SY Jin 24 Li 19 Liu 15 Zhao 12/6r
Xinjiang vs. Shangxi 84-94 XJ Peng 33 Wang 18/6r Little 16 SN Loyd 44/6r Wu 15 Guan 12/11r Wang 11