Following Saturday night’s historic NBL1 South Finals victory, where the Melbourne Tigers Women’s team secured the club’s first ever NBL1 finals win, the club was advised that players Shuyu Yang and Mingling Chen had been called to return to China for national team duties.
The notification was received following the conclusion of Saturday’s game, with the players required to depart to prepare for an international practice match against Nigeria.
As a result, Shuyu and Mingling will unfortunately be unavailable for the next stage of the Melbourne Tigers’ finals campaign.
While we fully respect the honour and responsibility that comes with representing one’s country, the news was unexpected given the timing and the significant contribution both players have made throughout the entire NBL1 season. Their influence has extended well beyond the court, playing an important role in our team’s success, enhancing the profile of the league, and contributing to the continued growth and exposure of women’s basketball.
At the heart of the Melbourne Tigers’ core values is supporting our players to develop and compete at the highest level possible, and there is no higher level than representing your country. As such, the Tigers are fully supportive of Shuyu and Mingling, even with the significant impact their absence has on our finals campaign.
Naturally, this is disappointing for our players, coaching staff, members and supporters, particularly after the momentum built throughout a remarkable season and following the team’s historic finals achievement.
Despite this setback, our confidence in the playing group remains unwavering. This team has demonstrated resilience, character and determination all season, and we have every belief they will continue to embrace the challenge ahead as they pursue their finals journey.
We felt it was important to be transparent with our members and supporters regarding the players’ absence and the circumstances surrounding it. We know our fans will continue to provide the incredible support that has been such a feature of our season, and we look forward to seeing that passion and energy behind our team as we continue our pursuit of NBL1 success.
The Melbourne Tigers thank Shuyu and Mingling for their outstanding contributions throughout the season and wish them every success as they represent their country on the international stage.
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