[Sports Seoul | Reporter Jung Da-wo] The race for the V-League women’s Young Player of the Year has shifted dramatically.
Heading into the midway point of the 2025–26 season, Lee Ji-yoon (Korea Expressway) was the clear favorite. The rookie middle blocker took over a starting role after veteran Bae Yoo-na went down with an injury and made an immediate impact. Lee posted double-digit scoring in four first-half matches and drew praise for her composed, veteran-style net play despite her rookie status.
The story changed in the second half. Since Round 5, Lee has not been a regular starter. With Bae Yoo-na back to form and the coaching staff favoring a starting combination that includes Kim Se-bin, Lee’s minutes have steadily declined. She hasn’t reached double figures in scoring since Round 4, and her presence has been noticeably reduced compared with the opening half of the season.
Another contender, Choi Yu-rim (GS Caltex), also missed time after suffering a midseason injury.
By contrast, Jung Kwan Jang’s setter Choi Seo-hyun — a candidate alongside Lee since the first half — has stayed in the starting lineup. Released by Hyundai Engineering & Construction after last season, Choi arrived like a Cinderella and injected energy into the V-League. She remained a starter through Round 6 and has been a constant thorn for opponents down the stretch. She ranks fourth in the league, averaging 9.342 per set. Despite her team’s struggles, her season-long consistency and the central role of the setter position make her the strongest candidate for the award. Her star power is also growing—she was selected to the All-Star team.
Another player to watch is rookie outside hitter Park Yeoreum. Since Round 5 she’s been spectacular. In nine starts across Rounds 5 and 6, she scored 115 points — a 12.8 points-per-game average — and fell short of double digits in only two games. Park has been the team’s most reliable presence on both offense and defense, effectively locking down the outside-hitter role for Jung Kwan Jang. She’s also shown clear improvement with each outing.
With Lee Ji-yoon’s role shrinking, Choi Seo-hyun’s biggest challenge may come from within her own club — an intriguing internal rivalry.
Still, over the course of a full season, Choi’s consistency gives her the edge. Park’s first-half impact didn’t match veteran Choi’s, and Choi, now in her third year, faces her last season of eligibility for the Young Player award. weo@sportsseoul.com
