One of the keys to Beijing's second straight WCBA title was the close bond between the members of the squad. That proved especially true for forward Zhang Fan, as a left hand fracture had sidelined her for the latter stage of the campaign. But the two-time Olympian continued to suit up and support her teammates, fully confident that they could close out the series against Bayi at home. 

As the Beijing Great Wall warmed up for Game Three of the WCBA finals, Zhang knew that she had once again been ruled out from being available to play, long before tip-off at the Shougang Gymnasium. But the veteran forward would remain positive, and keep encouraging the rest of the Capital Ladies to complete their mission for this winter – capturing a second straight league championship.

"I am very much looking forward to that, because every team wishes to win a championship at home, and us defending the title, that is what we're trying to do in this game," said Zhang.

The home squad came out determined to dominate, powered by the inside efficiency of American center Sylvia Fowles. But the visitors were not without their own source of inspiration, assistant coach Chen Nan, a four-time Olympian who stepped out of retirement after injuries decimated Bayi's roster late in the regular season -- and helped propel the Kylins into the title round of this year's playoffs.

With Chen Nan coming off the bench in the second quarter of Game Three, her presence would spark a mini-run that helped Bayi cut into what was shaping up to be a daunting deficit. But despite that short-lived surge by the Kylins, Beijing's Great Wall appeared unsalable by the time Sylvia Fowles took a seat in the fourth Q."

The defending champions would continue to increase their lead over the Military Maidens down the stretch, and with just a couple of minutes to go, Zhang got the call to make an emotional cameo appearance, as the titleholders wrapped up a three-game sweep, and a second consecutive trophy. Fowles became the first international competitor to be named WCBA Finals MVP, but she said one of her most heartfelt highlights from this series, was seeing her injured front court mate get back on the floor.

"Just her leadership, Sylvia admires her teammate Zhang Fan. “She's been with us all season. She's been pushing this team from the start, and just to get part of that five-minute frame to go out there and just to redeem herself, because she's part of this team as well, it meant a lot for her, but as well for us."

Spurred by the determination of their unsung motivator, and presented with the championship hardware by the recently-elected chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, Yao Ming, the Great Wall seem to be on the verge of cementing themselves as the latest dynasty in the WCBA, with this run of success due in large part to the affirmative way they support each other on and off the court.