The upcoming women’s basketball World Cup in Berlin begins with a high‑profile showdown: the four‑time defending champion United States versus a Chinese team that boasts two of the tallest players ever seen in the sport. At just 19 years old, Zhang Ziyu stands an astonishing 7‑foot‑3, while veteran Han Xu measures 6‑10. Their size alone forces opponents to rethink traditional defensive schemes.
China’s new height advantage
Zhang’s debut on the world stage follows a strong showing at the Women’s Asia Cup, where she helped China capture bronze while averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. Her height surpasses even NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and comes within an inch of the towering Victor Wembanyama, making her a focal point for scouts and fans alike.
Han Xu, a familiar face to U.S. fans from her WNBA stint with the New York Liberty, praised Zhang’s readiness. “World Cup is a good moment for her, for the whole world to know her,” Han told the Associated Press. “I am so excited to play with her again.”
U.S. preparation and perspective
U.S. guard Sonia Citron, also making her World Cup debut, acknowledges the challenge. “We’ll try to make it difficult for her, you know, to guard her as a team,” Citron said. “Just don’t leave anybody on an island, but yeah, we’ll prep everything and then be ready.” The American coaching staff is expected to employ a mix of perimeter pressure and interior rotations to limit the impact of China’s towering frontcourt.
Missing talent and logistical hiccups
China originally planned to field a third center, 6‑7 Li Yueru of the Dallas Wings, but a passport mishap forced her out of the tournament. Li announced the loss on social media, noting that her passport was lost in the mail and she would be unable to compete.
Despite Li’s absence, Zhang and Han have been training intensively. Zhang missed China’s pre‑tournament warm‑up against France and has been working with a personal trainer on individual exercises, while the rest of the team warmed up on the court. “She has a big body and tall girl, and she needs some time to rest a little bit,” Han explained, emphasizing the need for careful conditioning.
China’s broader ambitions
While few analysts expect China to dethrone the United States, the addition of Zhang provides an extra weapon that was missing in 2022. Han reflected on the previous tournament, saying, “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%. I’ll try to do the same or better and focus every single game.”
The Chinese roster also includes veteran Han, now 26, who takes on a mentorship role for younger teammates. She described Zhang as “a little girl, you know, like the heart is soft,” underscoring the blend of experience and youthful potential on the squad.
What’s at stake
The opening game on Friday in Berlin will set the tone for both teams. For the United States, it is an opportunity to reaffirm dominance and test new talent ahead of a demanding tournament schedule. For China, it is a chance to showcase the impact of unprecedented height and to prove that they can compete at the highest level.
Fans worldwide will be watching closely as the two basketball powerhouses clash, with the towering Chinese duo promising to make the contest one of the most memorable openings in recent World Cup history.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
