Zhang Ziyu Towers in Her World Cup Debut as 7-Foot-3 Sensation Hopes to Get China to Quarterfinals
Zhang scored 8 points in 8 minutes against Italy and drew viral attention after chatting with Paige Bueckers in China’s World Cup opener.
- On Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, China's 7-foot-3 center Zhang Ziyu debuted at the Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, drawing attention during a viral on-court interaction with United States guard Paige Bueckers.
- Skills development coach April Sykes, a Former Rutgers player, worked with Zhang earlier this year, describing the 19-year-old as "very coachable." Sykes said the young star is a "jokester" who enjoys video games and is "literally a kid."
- China teammate Han, who plays for the New York Liberty, praised Zhang's performance on the world stage. In a win over Italy, Zhang contributed eight points and three rebounds in eight minutes, forcing the Italians to adjust defensively.
- Seeking a spot in the quarterfinals, China faces Puerto Rico on Wednesday in a qualification game. Italian center Olbis Andre acknowledged the unique challenge Zhang presents, saying opponents must "find different ways to stop her."
- Although she is a focal point of the tournament, Zhang has not spoken to the media, often bowing or smiling when walking through interview areas. Having started basketball seriously only within the last year, she remains a developing talent for China.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Zhang Ziyu towers in her World Cup debut as 7-foot-3 sensation hopes t
United States' Paige Bueckers talks to China's Zhang Ziyu during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between China and the United States in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Associated Press News
Zhang Ziyu towers in her World Cup debut as 7-foot-3 sensation hopes to get China to quarterfinals
Zhang Ziyu has made quite an impression in her women’s FIBA World Cup debut. While the 7-foot-3 center for China may not have had a breakout game yet, whenever she is on the court she is noticed.
Seeing her sitting down already impresses. When she stands up, it’s only left to look at the sky. Zhang Ziyu is 19 years old and is 2.23m tall. She’s the highest professional basketball player in history and the great attraction in the Berlin World Cup who is fighting with the Chinese team, but, as she herself remembers, she’s still almost a girl. “Everyone thinks I’m very hard because I’m very tall, but I’m still a young girl, sometimes quite c…
The center of just 19 years participates in its first major absolute international event and is constantly compared to Yao Ming, legend of Asian basketball. Now Puerto Rico will have to present a strategy to avoid its offensive.
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