S.Korea - 2022-2023 V-League (Women)

    If y'all have some spare time left I would recommend to rewatch this final match! Total different style than European volleyball, but what an exciting game!! Look at the set scores, the teams were as close as possible:what: (25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 13-15)


    Would have liked it if KYK won though;(;(

    I still can't believe they titled this championships as "100% Probability vs 0% Miracle" (Pink Spiders 100% vs Hipass 0% basically)


    Hipass overturned that 0% and won 3-2 after being down 0-2:box::obey:


    And surprisingly, despite the media's strong narrative for Pink Spiders, more viewers were cheering for Hipass to win

    So many highs and lows on this one. Hi-Pass really gave it their all! Park Jeong Ah has many championships in her belt now, especially when she used to play for IBK and even when she began on Hi-Pass.


    What a thrilling end to this season! Hope this translates in the national team performance as well. :super:

    Is theloneracer around? Perhaps its time for a new thread, but here goes for now:


    Free Agent List for next season:

    Group A

    KIM Yeonkoung (OH) - Pink Spiders

    BAE Yoona (MB) - Hipass

    PARK Jeongah (OH) - Hipass

    MOON Jungwon (OH) - Hipass

    JEON Saeyan (OH) - Hipass

    HWANG Minkyung (OH) - Hillstate

    KIM Yeongyeon (OH) - Hillstate

    HAN Songyi (MB) - KGC

    YEUM Hyeseon (S) - KGC

    MOON Myunghwa (MB) - GS

    HAN Sujin (Li/S) - GS

    KIM Suji (MB) - IBK

    KIM Heejin (OPP/MB) - IBK

    OH Jiyoung (Li) - Pepper

    LEE Hanbi (OH) - Pepper


    Group B

    DO Subin (Li) - Pink Spiders

    JUNG Daeyoung (MB) - Hipass

    Hwang Yeonjoo (OPP) - Hillstate

    JEONG Siyoung (OH) - Hillstate

    CHAE Seonah (OH) - KGC



    Hipass in particular has at least 3-4 of their main roster in FA for next season. Considering they won this season, it's possible they could retain their roster - though if Hillstate had a healthy Yasmeen there's no way they would've lost to Hipass or Pink Spiders.


    Noticed that a lot of the veterans are turning FA in the same year - KYK, Kim Suji, Kim Heejin, Park Jeongah, Yeum Hyeseon, Oh Jiyoung

    + Han Songyi, Bae Yoona


    Perhaps that's the reason for that rumor mid-season that KYK could potentially sign with AI Pepper next season and bring along her close friends. She'd get to play together with Suji who's her best friend since school days, and Pepper definitely has the salary cap to accommodate that.

    It's not confirmed but it seems like KYK has plans to continue playing and not retire. She said because her fans want to watch her longer she is considering it seriously, it could also be influenced by her missing out on the championship trophy this season which would've allowed her to retire on a high.


    Many OH players in the FA market this time round, it would be very interesting to see some changes unlike last FA market.

    I wonder if Lee Jaeyeong would return next season too after being out for 2.5 years. Many fans are speculating that possibility since all the other sports players facing similar issues had returned much earlier. I hope she does, it'll be really interesting to watch.


    I'm also really looking forward to the roster choices made by the 2 new foreign coaches in the league - Abbondanza in PS & Ahen Kim in Peppers

    LEE Soyoung decided to get shoulder surgery and she will be out for 6-8 months for rehabilitation (source)


    KIM Heejin received knee surgery in March and is expected to be out for 1 year for rehab (source)


    I wonder how that'll affect her FA, would any team want to sign her knowing she'll be out for the whole of 23/24 season?

    She's been with IBK since debut, so will they retain her as franchise star or will their coach Kim Hochul look for new players to revitalize the team?


    Honestly KHJ's position is pretty unclear as MB/OPP. She can't compare to foreign players in OPP position, nor is she effective in MB position. Not to mention her recurring and frequent injuries.


    Assuming IBK chooses not to sign with her, it'll open up a lot of their salary cap for new players (600 million krw to be exact)

    Quote from Kofudakji

    i think its gonna be a wild FA season.

    I hope it is indeed a wild FA season to change things up

    There were too few changes last season with Hillstate retaining all their players thanks to giving MVP Yang Hyojin an undeserved pay cut


    Quote from throwawayanyway

    Who wants to start the thread lol?

    I'd like if theloneracer could continue it, but feel free to do so if they're inactive! I won't go as far as creating a thread, just want to read/give updates if any


    Also,

    KYK has confirmed that she will not be retiring and said she wants to sign with a team which can win next season (source)

    If KYK wants to join a club that can win next season, I would guess it'll be Hillstate


    1. Hillstate lowered YHJ's pay to make more space in salary cap

    2. Hwang Minkyeong (OH) is FA and KYK is also OH

    3. Hillstate can trade away a player with high salary to Pink Spiders during the FA negotiations by not protecting them, to make more salary space for KYK

    4. KYK seems willing to take a pay cut in exchange for winning


    Otherwise Hi-pass? Hipass has a lot of FA players they can let go off too to create salary cap space


    If she really takes a paycut and signs with Hillstate, it'll be another season like 20/21 where its overpowered and not a competitive league though

    I hope she doesn't take a pay cut again

    Quote from suminj

    I'd like if theloneracer could continue it, but feel free to do so if they're inactive! I won't go as far as creating a thread, just want to read/give updates if any

    Oh, I don't know about that lol. Just want to do updates also haha.


    Also, KOVO released their best of 7. Funny enough all chosen players, excluding the foreign players, aren't gonna be in NT anymore except Dain (finally).

    A refresher on how Free Agency works in Korea v-league


    Group A Free Agents (pay above 100 million krw)

    - Club that signs with a Group A FA player will have to pay their original club 200% of their original salary + lose a player

    - The new club can protect the Free Agent they signed with + 5 other players (6 players total), meanwhile the original club can select any other player from the new club


    Group B Free Agents: (pay between 50 million krw - 100 million krw)

    - Club that signs with a Group B FA player will have to pay their original club 300% of their original salary

    - There is no losing of players


    Group C Free Agents (none this round): (pay under 50 million krw)

    - Club that signs with a Group C FA player will have to pay their original club 150% of their original salary

    - There is no losing of players



    I think they increased the salary cap for a single player and overall league salary cap along with the foreigner pay, and also aim to increase roster size for each team. If anyone can find the source and exact numbers that would be great :heart:

    My guess that KYK was interested to join Hillstate was right, but my speculation is

    1. Hillstate could not offer her max salary - they are the team with the most maxed out salary cap right now, they can let go of Hwang Minkyung and Hwang Yeonjoo and maybe some juniors to make space for KYK, but its definitely not gonna be close to 775 million krw.

    2. KYK likely decided against taking a paycut due to the negative talk around it after her comments made during her interview.

    Both parties ended the transfer discussion and Hillstate said they will focus on retaining their FA players and keeping their squad intact.


    I'm surprised only 3 teams reached out to KYK - Pepper, Hillstate, Pink Spiders. (source)

    But having to pay 1400million krw & let go of 1 player, on top of offering new max contract of 775 million krw to her is likely too out of reach for most clubs.


    Not going to Pepper seems related to her comment of wanting to go to "a team which is not too difficult to adapt to" and "has a chance of winning".



    FA News thus far:

    - KYK stays at Pink Spiders (source) - most likely max 775 million krw

    - Kim Suji to Pink Spiders (source), KYK's childhood friend

    - Bae Yoona stays at Hipass (source) - rumoured to be highest paid MB in league

    - Park Jeongah received offers from at least 4 or more clubs (source)

    - Hillstate says they will aim to retain Hwang Minkyung and Hwang Yeonjoo (source)


    Additional News
    - At least 5 clubs showed interest in Thai NT setter Pornpun for Asia Quarter (source) - same club as LDY this season, but currently injured.

    Biggest move this FA season!


    PARK Jeongah moves from Hipass to AI Pepper for next 3 years (source)


    It is said in another article that she will receive the same max contract of 775 million krw as KYK in Pink Spiders.


    In other FA news:

    - DO Subin recontracted with Pink Spiders again (source)

    - KIM Yuri (GS MB) retires due to her knee issues, she did not compete last season (source)

    Glad she had a good 20/21 season even winning match MVP once