As the Women’s FIBA World Cup approaches, all eyes will be on China, particularly due to the remarkable height of their players. The Chinese team features two of the tallest athletes in women's basketball: 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu, who stands at an impressive 7-foot-3, and Han Xu, who is 6-foot-10. Their height presents a significant challenge for their opponents, starting with the United States, who will face China in their opening match in Berlin.
Zhang Ziyu's participation marks her debut on the world stage. She was not part of the Chinese squad that faced the U.S. in the 2022 World Cup final, where the Americans claimed their fourth consecutive gold medal with an 83-61 victory. However, Zhang made her senior debut at the Women’s Asia Cup last year, where she played a pivotal role in helping China secure a bronze medal, averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds throughout the tournament.
Han Xu, who is familiar to U.S. audiences from her time with the WNBA's New York Liberty, has been vocal about her excitement for Zhang's debut. She expressed her belief that the World Cup is a crucial opportunity for Zhang to showcase her talent to a global audience. “World Cup is a good moment for her, for the whole world to know her,” Han said, emphasizing her eagerness to play alongside the young star once again.
Both players come from basketball backgrounds, with Zhang's parents having played the sport, and it was her mother who encouraged her to pursue basketball. Han, being one of the older members of the Chinese roster at 26, has taken on a mentorship role, guiding her younger teammates, including Zhang. She affectionately referred to Zhang as “a little girl” who is just beginning her career, highlighting the importance of nurturing her development.
As the tournament begins, Zhang's performance will be closely monitored, especially since she missed a recent warm-up match against France and had limited practice time open to the media. Han noted that Zhang has been practicing, albeit cautiously, as she adjusts to the demands of the competition. “She just needs some rest ... she has a big body and tall girl, and she needs some time to rest a little bit,” Han remarked.
U.S. guard Sonia Citron, also making her World Cup debut, acknowledged the challenge posed by Zhang and the Chinese team. She expressed confidence in her team's preparation, stating, “I think just try to make it difficult for her, you know, to guard her as a team. Just don’t leave anybody on an island, but yeah, I think we’ll prep everything and then be ready.”
While many experts predict that China may not advance as far as they did in 2022, where they surprised many by their performance, the addition of Zhang Ziyu provides the team with a significant advantage they lacked in the previous tournament. Han reflected on their past success, stating, “At the last World Cup, we played our best, but before we played, we never thought we would do so well, but we gave 100%.” She aims to replicate that effort and focus in the upcoming matches, despite the noise surrounding the event.
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