FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026: Zhang Ziyu, the 19-year-old taking basketball to new heights
At 2.2 metres (7 feet 3 inches) tall, Zhang is rewriting expectations for height and impact in women’s basketball.
Standing at 2.2 metres (7 feet 3 inches) at 19 years old, Zhang Ziyu will be a name circling the arenas of Berlin when People's Republic of China step out onto the floor for their FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup campaign.
Zhang’s size alone is historic. She is taller than every player in WNBA history, including the league’s tallest player to date, Margo Dydek, who stood at 7ft 2in.
For a clearer picture of just how rare Zhang’s stature is, she is only three inches shorter than Victor Wembanyama (7ft 5in), the 2024 Rookie of the Year and currently the tallest player in the NBA.
But more than a height anomaly, the teenager has already proven in her debut 2026 season that she can repeatedly overpower former WNBA stars former WNBA players in China’s top league.
As she prepares for her maiden World Cup this month, with China drawn in Group D alongside their 2022 final opponents, the USA, Zhang is aiming to catch the eye in front of a global audience.
Top 5 tallest active WNBA players
| Ranking | Player | Height | Current Team |
| 1 | Brittney Griner | 6 feet 9 inches | Atlanta Dream |
| 2= | Kalani Brown | 6 feet 7 inches | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2= | Kamilla Cardoso | 6 feet 7 inches | Chicago Sky |
| 2= | Li Yueru | 6 feet 7 inches | Seattle Storm |
| 2= | Teaira McCowan | 6 feet 7 inches | Dallas Wings |
A FIBA World Cup debut to watch
In their opening game on Friday 4 September, China face the dynasty of four-time reigning champions and a roster littered with the WNBA’s finest in the USA, for a rematch of the 2022 World Cup final.
The reigning silver medallists are hoping for another deep tournament run in Berlin. This time around, they are equipped with one of the most promising and intriguing prospects of the basketball world.
“She’s a once-in-a-generation talent,” China’s head coach, Lu-min Gong, described to FIBA. “Not just for our country but for the world.
“Her physical condition is unique,” Lu-ming continued.
“She doesn’t represent a style, because someone of her stature is as rare of phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; the only one.
“Her height is her advantage, and a challenge for all nations. Her control around the basket is extremely dominant. Every team’s defence goes after her.”
Zhang’s international career already garnered attention when, at U18 level, she became the first Chinese woman to dunk in an official game. At the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2024, she erupted for 42 points and 14 rebounds in the Final to earn MVP honours.
Named in the roster for the 2026 FIBA World Cup in September is a continuation of her seamless arrival to the senior stage.
In her debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina, she racked up 18 points and 7 rebounds in 12 minutes, and went on to average 13.3 points per game in the qualifying tournament for the World Cup.
In warm-up friendly matches ahead of Berlin, she tallied 24 points and 11 rebounds against African champions Nigeria.
“It was an honour and a privilege to join the women’s Asia Cup training camp at just 18,” Zhang, the daughter of two basketball players, added.
“The World Cup is a huge challenge for me. I will face new opponents, and I need to learn to work harder. I have areas to grow, so I focus on learning.”
Impactful pro debut vs. former WNBA players
Zhang made her professional debut at the start of 2026, on 4 January, in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) as she played 12 minutes for the Shandong Shijiazhuang. In her first appearance, she delivered 15 points and 12 rebounds on six-of-nine shooting from the field, off the bench. Her performance helped Shandong secure a 106-93 victory against Hebei Win Power, who had former WNBA players Emily Potter and Kaela Davis on the roster.
"Promising young players like Zhang will get tested, improve themselves and gain experience in the WCBA league to better contribute to Chinese women's basketball," said Lu-ming.
In the two weeks that followed, Zhang faced some of the WNBA’s most talented young players, including Kamilla Cardoso, the 2024 third overall pick, and Kalani Brown, the seventh overall pick in 2019. Against both, she held her own, delivering 10 points and seven points respectively over those two games.
MEDLEY, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Paige Bueckers #5 of the Breeze dribbles the ball against Sug Sutton #1 of the Rose during the second quarter of the Unrivaled 2026 game at Sephora Arena on January 11, 2026 in Medley, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
Latest in Unrivaled basketball
While Zhang continues her rise, other young stars are making waves across global leagues. In her first Unrivaled season, Paige Bueckers earned $50,000 after going 13 for 13 in the league’s inaugural free throw challenge. She is averaging 23.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game for the 3-2 Breeze BC. She also scored 37 points, including the game winner, in an 83-64 victory over the Mist. The Breeze return to action on Saturday, 24 January, against the No. 8 Lunar Owls live on truTV.
Height continues to be a defining storyline in women’s basketball. Just one week ago, Texas A&M’s Stephanie Okechukwu drew national attention as the 7ft 1in center prepares to become the tallest woman in NCAA history when she steps on the court. Her emergence, alongside Zhang’s rise in the People's Republic of China, reflects a global movement toward taller, more versatile players shaping the future of the sport.