China's 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu looms over opponents on debut at Women's Basketball World Cup
- 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu, standing 7-foot-3 (2.21 meters), made her Women's Basketball World Cup debut as China faced the United States on September 4, 2026, in Berlin.
- The U.S. defeated China 94-61, with Zhang playing 18 minutes and scoring 13 points, including 9 from free throws, while being held scoreless in the first quarter.
- Zhang is taller than Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal and only one inch shorter than NBA player Victor Wembanyama, presenting unique defensive challenges for opponents.
- China's coach Gong Luming praised Zhang's performance as excellent for a young player facing high-level competition, while U.S. coach Kara Lawson noted her efficiency and potential.
- Zhang underwent a personalized training regime due to her exceptional size and missed China's pre-tournament warmup, with her teammates noting she requires special preparation and rest.
China's 19-year-old center Zhang Ziyu made her Women's Basketball World Cup debut on September 4, 2026, in Berlin, standing 7-foot-3 (2.21 meters) tall. Playing against the four-time defending champion United States, Zhang presented a significant physical challenge despite China's 94-61 loss. She scored 13 points over 18 minutes of play, with 9 coming from free throws, though she was held scoreless in the opening quarter by American defenders Aliyah Boston and Kiki Iriafen.
Zhang's exceptional height—surpassing Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal and falling only one inch short of NBA player Victor Wembanyama—creates unique offensive and defensive dynamics. U.S. coach Kara Lawson acknowledged the difficulty of defending against Zhang near the basket, praising her efficiency and potential for growth. China's coach Gong Luming described her performance as excellent for a young player facing such intense competition, emphasizing her positive trajectory.
Due to her distinctive physical attributes, Zhang follows a personalized training regimen designed by China's coaching staff, including individual exercises with a personal trainer rather than standard team warmups. She missed China's pre-tournament warmup against France and limited practice sessions, with teammates noting she requires special preparation and rest. As a young player making her World Cup debut, Zhang brings a new dimension to China's roster that the team lacked in their 2022 World Cup final appearance. China will next face the Czech Republic on Sunday.
中国7尺3寸张子宇在女篮世界杯首秀中高耸于对手之上
中国19岁中锋张子宇于2026年9月4日在柏林女篮世界杯首秀中亮相，身高7尺3寸（2.21米）。在对阵四届卫冕冠军美国的比赛中，张子宇展现了显著的身体优势，尽管中国以94-61落败。她在出场18分钟内得到13分，其中9分来自罚球，但在首节被美国防守球员艾丽亚·波士顿和基基·伊里亚芬零封。
张子宇的超群身高——超越篮球名人堂成员沙奎尔·奥尼尔，仅比NBA球员维姆班亚玛矮1英寸——在进攻和防守中都产生了独特的影响。美国教练卡拉·劳森承认防守张子宇在篮下的威胁很大，并赞扬了她的效率和成长潜力。中国教练宫鲁鸣将她的表现描述为一名年轻球员在如此高强度竞争中的出色表现，强调了她的积极发展轨迹。
由于张子宇独特的身体条件，中国教练组为她设计了个性化训练方案，包括与私人教练进行个别训练，而非标准的团队热身。她缺席了中国对法国的赛前热身赛，以及有限的公开训练时段，队友表示她需要特殊的准备和充分休息。作为一名参加世界杯首秀的年轻球员，张子宇为中国阵容增添了球队在2022年世界杯决赛中所缺乏的新维度。中国队将在周日对阵捷克队。