Recent online rumors claim that Sichuan Women’s Basketball guard Wang Siyu has withdrawn from the national team and is set to take over as the team’s head coach.
Around the same time, it was reported that French head coach Disar, who just led Sichuan to the WCBA championship, has accepted a role as an assistant coach for the Belgian women’s national team. This makes the speculation that Wang Siyu would replace Disar as Sichuan’s head coach seem plausible at first glance.
However, the rumor doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Although Wang Siyu’s social media IP address currently shows Shanghai, that does not mean she has left the national team.
Gong Luming’s approach to long-term training camps has drawn significant criticism, but for veterans like Wang Siyu, it’s unlikely he would call her in early. She would be given an extended recovery period.
So, Wang is likely just enjoying her offseason break. She is expected to rejoin the national team about a month or two before the World Cup, given her indispensable role in the squad.
Likewise, Disar is currently in his offseason, and taking on a part-time role with the Belgian team is not unusual. During the offseason, domestic tournaments are often handled by assistant coaches for Sichuan. The team has precedent of using an assistant to lead tournaments while the head coach returns for the WCBA season.
Even if Disar does not coach Sichuan in the next WCBA season, Wang Siyu could indeed follow the example of Huang Sijing and become a player-head coach.
Notably, Wang Siyu already serves as a player-assistant coach this season. With her stature within the team, taking over as head coach would not be surprising and would likely earn respect from her teammates.
