In a highly anticipated matchup at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the United States faced a formidable challenge from China, particularly due to the presence of Zhang Ziyu, a towering 7-foot-3 center and a leading prospect for the 2027 WNBA Draft. Zhang, at just 19 years old, is recognized by FIBA as the tallest player ever to compete in a women’s basketball event, making her a unique adversary for the U.S. team.
The challenge for the U.S. was intensified by the late withdrawal of A’ja Wilson, a four-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, who stepped away from the tournament just four days before the opening game. This left a significant gap in the U.S. frontcourt, placing the onus on a younger generation of players to rise to the occasion against a player of Zhang's caliber.
Aliyah Boston, standing at 6-foot-5, was instrumental in the U.S. victory, which concluded with a score of 94-61. Boston, alongside teammate Angel Reese, effectively limited Zhang's impact, holding her to just 13 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes of play. Boston's defensive strategy focused on making it difficult for Zhang to receive the ball and establishing physicality in the paint.
“Just making their catches hard is key,” Boston explained. “I think our ball pressure helped, making it really tough to get [the ball] inside and keeping my hands straight up. I know I got two or three fouls on it, but I think we did a really great job on them.” Her efforts, combined with the team's overall strategy, proved effective in neutralizing Zhang's scoring opportunities.
China's Han Xu also posed a challenge for the U.S. team, contributing a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Han, a seasoned player at 6-foot-8, previously scored 20 points against the U.S. in the 2018 tournament and has earned accolades as a three-time Most Valuable Player in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) before joining the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark, another standout on the U.S. squad, remarked on the unique challenge presented by Zhang, stating, “I’ve never played against a woman of that size. She presented some challenges for us, but you’ve got to give our post players a ton of credit. They really battled.” Clark acknowledged the preparation and physicality emphasized by head coach Kara Lawson, which helped the team maintain composure against Zhang's size.
Despite Zhang's limited scoring, she showcased her efficiency at the free-throw line, converting 9 of 10 attempts. Coach Lawson noted the difficulties in defending against a player of Zhang's stature, stating, “There’s not much you can do to stop her when she gets it close to the basket.” Lawson acknowledged that while Zhang was effective, the U.S. team executed their game plan well to limit her overall impact.
As the tournament progresses, the U.S. team will look to build on this victory, with players like Boston stepping up to fill the void left by veterans. The performance against China not only highlights the depth of talent within the U.S. women's basketball program but also sets the stage for future matchups in the tournament.
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