China's 7-foot-3 teen star Zhang Ziyu sparks social media frenzy at Fiba World Cup

China’s 2.2-metre (7-foot-3) teenage centre Zhang Ziyu sparked a social media frenzy after making her Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup debut against the United States in Berlin on Friday.

While the defending champion Americans secured a 94-61 victory in their Group D opener at the Max-Schmeling-Halle arena, viral images and clips of the 19-year-old towering over WNBA superstars dominated online commentary, drawing praise from US stars while exposing deep tactical divisions among Chinese fans.

In her 18 minutes off the bench, Zhang presented an unprecedented physical presence, recording a team-high 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks while making nine of 10 free throws.

Standing more than 25 centimetres (10 inches) taller than the tallest American player, Aliyah Boston, photos of Zhang alongside WNBA stars Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers quickly went viral worldwide, with fans joking that the match-up resembled “adults playing against children”.

Among the game’s most celebrated post-match moments was a lighthearted interaction between Zhang and Dallas Wings guard Bueckers.

Smiling widely, the 1.83-metre Bueckers walked up to Zhang and used her hand to gauge the 40cm height gap between them. Zhang responded warmly by leaning down slightly, though she still towered over Bueckers by more than half a head.