V League free agent market still hot with one week to go

Over a week has passed since the V League free agent market opened, but some of the biggest names like Kang So-hwi of GS Caltex Seoul Kixx and Jeong Ji-yun of Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate are yet to sign a deal as of press time

GS Caltex Seoul Kixx's Kang So-hwi, left, attacks during a 2023-24 V League game against the Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders at Jangchung Arena in central Seoul on Jan. 17. [YONHAP]

Over a week has passed since the V League free agent market opened, but some of the biggest names up for grabs this year like Kang So-hwi of GS Caltex Seoul Kixx and Jeong Ji-yun of Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate are still yet to sign a deal as of press time Thursday.

Outside hitter Kang, 26, is an obvious choice for teams looking to reinforce their attack.

During her nine-year spell with the Kixx, she established herself as a key attacker and won multiple awards, including a place in the best seven players of the 2021-22 season, which allowed her to be a regular pick for the national team.

Last season, she also led the Kixx’s attack as the team’s second highest scorer, with 444 points.

Her annual salary could be the big barrier for smaller teams like the Gwangju Pepper Savings Bank AI Peppers, who only scored 2,840 points last season, as Kang is an A-class free agent.

V League rules stipulate that a team signing an A-class free agent has to pay her former team either double her annual salary and provide one consolation player, or triple her annual salary without the consolation player.

Kang made 550 million won ($403,000) last year, and the most she can earn as a free agent is 800 million won, the salary limit set by the women’s V League.

An 800 million won paycheck will make her the highest-paid player in women’s V League history, as the salary limit was raised from 775 million won last year.

Another national team regular outside hitter pick Jeong, 23, is also a solid option at a lower price — her salary was only 180 million won last year.

Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate's Jeong Ji-yun, right, attacks during a 2023-24 V League Championship game against the Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders at Suwon Gymnasium in Suwon, Gyeonggi on March 28. [YONHAP]

Jeong has displayed a convincing performance both in attack and defense since she started her pro career at Hillstate in 2018. She was a key part of the 2023-24 squad that swept both the league and championship titles for the first time in 13 years.

Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders regular middle blocker pick Lee Ju-ah is also still on the market, but she may opt to stay put.

Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders' Lee Ju-ah, left, attacks during a 2023-24 V League game against the Gwangju Pepper Savings Bank AI Peppers at Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon on Dec. 5, 2023. [YONHAP]

Keeping the regular picks is likely a priority for the Pink Spiders, who failed to win any silverware in the 2023-24 campaign after finishing both the league and championship as runners-up.

Multiple other players are also on the free agent list, including setter Kim Ha-kyung of the Hwaseong IBK Altos and outside hitter Ko Ui-jeong of Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass.

The free agent market closes on April 17.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]