China's Towering Basketball Stars Set for Fiba Women's World Cup Clash with US
Zhang Ziyu and Han Xu lead a formidable Chinese front line ahead of their tournament opener against the United States in Berlin.
Quick Look
China's 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu and 6-foot-10 Han Xu prepare to face the United States in the Fiba Women's World Cup opener in Berlin, as China seeks to challenge the four-time defending champions.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
China opens their campaign against four-time defending champions the United States in Berlin on Friday.
Opponents will be looking up to China during the Fiba Women’s World Cup, starting with the United States.
The Americans and everyone else will have to navigate around and over some of the tallest women on the planet: China’s 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu stands 7-foot-3 (2.2 metres).
The US team are already familiar with 6-foot-10 Han Xu from her Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) games with the New York Liberty.
If not for a passport mishap, Zhang and Han would be joined by another centre – 6-foot-7 Li Yueru, who plays with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. Li posted on social media Wednesday that her passport was lost in the post and she will not be able to compete.
China opens their campaign against the four-time defending champions in Berlin on Friday.
Zhang wasn’t playing when the US beat China 83-61 in the 2022 World Cup final in Sydney for a fourth consecutive gold medal. She made her senior debut at the Women’s Asia Cup last year and helped China capture bronze, averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in the tournament.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
China opens campaign against the United States in Berlin on Friday
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How will the US team strategize against Zhang Ziyu's height?
