An unprecedented record has been born in Korean women's basketball history. As Incheon Shinhan Bank secures the overall 1st pick in the rookie draft for three consecutive years and continues its bold moves toward the future, head coach Choi Yun-ah emphasizes the 'value of effort' hidden behind the glittering titles and underscores the importance of discovering new promising players.

Shinhan Bank's unprecedented three consecutive overall 1st pick acquisitions stem from a trade conducted last June. Shinhan Bank made a bold decision to send key forward Choi Yi-saem to Busan BNK in exchange for promising guard Shim Soo-hyun and 'the 1st round priority draft pick for this rookie draft.' This trade became the decisive factor in Shinhan Bank setting such a remarkable record.

The twist occurred on July 23, 2026, during the 2026-2027 season rookie draft pick order lottery. On that day, BNK drew the overall 1st pick, and Shinhan Bank drew the 2nd pick. However, according to the trade conditions from June, when BNK's 1st overall pick was exercised, Shinhan Bank would exercise it, creating a dramatic situation where Shinhan Bank secured the overall 1st pick for three consecutive years.

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With this, Shinhan Bank is now able to select another top prospect following Hong Yu-soon in 2024 and Lee Ga-hyun in 2025. Head coach Choi Yun-ah revealed that she is currently broadly examining 2-3 candidates, with some players receiving particular focus. For this year's draft, main candidates include Lim Yeon-seo from Gwangju Sepia Girls' High School, called the 'second Kim Dan-bi,' and Manah Kaneda, a Korean-Japanese player, among others.

However, head coach Choi Yun-ah's drafting philosophy transcends the simple meaning of pick order. Coach Choi emphasized that 'what matters is how much effort a player makes after joining the team, not the 1st overall pick itself,' and stated that 'we will comprehensively evaluate growth potential after joining the professional league and consistent effort rather than current fame.' Additionally, with the words 'you won't know what's long and what's short until you see it. What comes after that will be more important,' she revealed her determination to focus on discovering and developing the potential of rookie players.

Through this three consecutive overall 1st pick, Shinhan Bank has positioned itself advantageously to catch two rabbits at once: immediate squad reinforcement and long-term generational transition. Under head coach Choi Yun-ah's leadership, the team's philosophy of prioritizing future growth potential and effort over immediate performance is drawing attention for what positive impact it may have not only on the team's long-term success but also on the future of Korean women's basketball. In particular, the performances of promising players who will focus on the 'process of growth' hidden behind the glittering spotlight are highly anticipated.