Chinese Women's National Basketball Team Qualifies for 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup

The Chinese women's national basketball team has accomplished an important milestone by qualifying for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup after winning all three of their group stage matches in the FIBA Asia Cup. Their impressive performance included a decisive 85-51 victory against New Zealand in Shenzhen, where standout center Zhang Ziyu, still fresh from her recent debut, contributed 12 points to the scoreboard.

A highlight of the tournament has been the newly formed "twin towers" duo of 18-year-old Zhang Ziyu and 25-year-old Han Xu. Standing at 2.26 meters, Zhang has quickly made an impact on the senior national team despite limited practice time, proving difficult for opponents to manage. In the match against New Zealand, both players demonstrated their prowess; Han scored 10 points and collected 5 rebounds, effectively utilizing her height of 2.07 meters, while Zhang added 12 points and 4 rebounds in a mere 10 minutes on the court.

As the Chinese team transitions, they blend veteran players like Huang Sijing and Yang Liwei with newer talents like Yang Shuyu and Zhang. Yang, who impressed with her own contribution of 12 points, emphasized that the team is gradually improving. She recognizes Zhang's influence and anticipates that upcoming opponents will adapt their strategies to counter her presence on the court.

Zhang gained fame in 2024 after excelling in the U18 Women's Asia Cup, earning MVP honors. Although she was initially slated for the U19 World Cup, she was moved to the senior national team for this tournament. Coach Gong Luming acknowledged that while the twin towers’ chemistry is still developing, their combined effort has potential as they continue to learn from each other during the games. Han, with her Asia Cup experience, stressed the importance of mental stability for Zhang amidst physical plays from opponents.

Leading up to their match against New Zealand, the team had already showcased their dominance in earlier games against Indonesia and South Korea, attaining significant victories. Their next challenge in the semifinals awaits after the playoff matches on Friday, and a strong performance this year also paves the way for top teams to automatically qualify for the upcoming World Cup. Following a successful campaign in the 2023 Asia Cup, which marked their return to the top, the team's previous inconsistency, highlighted by their ninth-place finish at the recent Paris Olympics, continues to be a point of concern and focus as they move forward.