If you needed a reminder that size still matters in basketball, China brought a walking measuring tape to the Premundial. Zhang Ziyu, the 18-year-old center who stands a staggering 2.20 meters, made her tournament debut in Wuhan and promptly caused mild panic under the basket.
China beat Mali 81-68, and Zhang did her part in a very efficient cameo: 12 minutes on the floor, 12 points (6 of 8 shooting), three rebounds and an 11 efficiency rating. Her pregame warm-up produced the internet’s favorite new flex when she practically checked whether the rim was still attached by almost touching it without jumping.
Yes, she is really that tall
Zhang plays for the Shandong Shangao Basketball Club and is the tallest player across all four Premundial groups. For context: she is just 1 centimeter shorter than Spanish center Aday Mara and 4 centimeters shorter than NBA giant Victor Wembanyama. She is also a full 50 centimeters taller than her teammate Zhang Manman, which is the kind of height gap that makes coaches redraw matchups on napkins.
Not alone at the top
China’s frontcourt reads like an IKEA instruction for a defensive wall. There is Han Xu at 2.05 meters, who plays in Australia for the Perth Lynx, and Li Yueru, a 2.01-meter forward who turns heads in the WNBA with the Dallas Wings. Li led the team in the opener with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Together with Zhang they form a very tall, very effective trio.
Height runs in the family
Zhang did not grow to 2.20 meters overnight. Her mum, Yu Ying, is a former pro and was an international for China at 1.98 meters. Her dad, Zhang Yuquan, is a former pro as well and measures 2.13 meters. Genetics did the heavy lifting and left the rest to hard work.
Zhang first grabbed attention back in 2021 when, at just 14 years old, she exploded for 42 points, 25 rebounds and six blocks in the final of her age-group national championship. That clip went viral, and scouts probably updated their neck pillow orders shortly after.
Already part of the senior plan
She is now a regular in the senior national team after debuting last June. In a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina she scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in only 13 minutes. Her endurance is understandably limited; bodies that size do not sprint for 40 minutes, but they do change the tone of a game fast.
Short version: China has a new, very tall weapon. She may not play long stretches yet, but when Zhang Ziyu is on the court, the rim gets nervous and opponents start recalculating their shot selection.
