Recently, there was a brawl outbreak during a warm-up match between the Huazhong University of Science and Technology women’s basketball team (HUST women’s basketball) and the Wuhan Shengfan Huanghe women’s basketball team (referred to as Wuhan Shengfan women’s basketball). After the incident, HUST women’s basketball coach Zhai Huan and players were excitedly reviewing the fight scene in an elevator, with some players saying, “I will give her three punches as soon as I get there, aiming at her head.” The surveillance footage inside the elevator was leaked, causing the incident to quickly become a hot topic.
On the afternoon of October 13th, Wuhan Shengfan women’s basketball and HUST women’s basketball had an internal warm-up exchange match at the Shengfan training base. As the game progressed to the third quarter, the intensity of the confrontation between the two teams escalated. HUST players repeatedly made aggressive fouls against Shengfan player Ding Yike. After several intense collisions, Ding Yike lost control of her emotions and took the first swing, escalating the verbal argument between the two teams into a physical conflict.
Video footage from the scene shows the two sides grappling in a tangle, with dozens of staff members from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology rushing into the court to push, shove, and surround the opposing players. The HUST head coach also entered the court to join the fight. The conflict lasted for about 5 minutes.
After the match, surveillance footage from the elevator leaked, showing the HUST women’s basketball coach and players reviewing the fight scene inside the elevator, with one player saying, “I will give her three punches, aiming at her head.” Another player mentioned, “I stepped on Ding Yike’s face, probably breaking her teeth.”
In response to this conflict, basketball journalist Jia Lei posted on Weibo, stating that after covering basketball games for many years, this was the first time he had seen a head coach rushing to physically attack an opposing player after a conflict. “What’s even more unbelievable is that after the fight, the coach and players were still exchanging experiences about the brawl with great enthusiasm.”
After the conflict subsided, Ding Yike was taken to the hospital for treatment, receiving 4 stitches on her mouth, and multiple abrasions on her face. The three Shengfan players who intervened to stop the fight did not retaliate but were also subjected to varying degrees of impact.
On October 14th, both the Shengfan club and Ding Yike issued apology letters, and on the 15th, the club announced disciplinary measures. Ding Yike received an internal warning, a fine of 10,000 yuan, temporary suspension of her captaincy, a ban on internal games for 5 matches, and was temporarily sent back to reflect at the Hubei Basketball Training Center. Three management members were fined 2,000 yuan each.
As of October 20th, there has been no public statement from HUST regarding the incident.