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Zhang Ziyu is the tallest player in women’s basketball history at 7-foot-3. She is only 18 years old.
Her first season as a professional has been as dominant as you might expect.
Although the level of competition in China may not be on par with the WNBA, there are multiple players in the league who were stars in the United States. Ziyu held her own against them!
Who is Zhang Ziyu?
Zhang is one inch taller than the tallest player in WNBA history at 238 pounds. Margo Dydek, from Poland, was the No. 1 overall pick in 1998 and played 11 years in the league at 7-foot-2. She was drafted at age 24.
Zhang Ziyu is six years younger.
As a native of Jinan, Shadong, the Chinese basketball phenom first became a viral sensation at 14. The women’s basketball community had its eye on her for the last four years. Her dominance at the U18 Asia Cup back in June made her an international sensation. Zhang played against girls who were more than two feet shorter than she, which was perhaps the most unfair mismatch I have ever seen.
China ultimately finished second at the U18 Asia Cup but Zhang was named as the MVP. She averaged 35 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. That’s crazy.
How will she fare in the WNBA?
As good as Zhang played against girls 18 years old or younger in Asia, there are questions about her ability to compete against more legitimate competition. Height does not always translate.
The expectation is that Zhang Ziyu will transition to the WNBA as early as 2027.
In the meantime, she is currently two weeks into her professional basketball career with the Shandong Six Stars of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association. It has been a great success thus far.
Zhang Ziyu (18, 7’5″) getting ready for her #WCBA debut tomorrow pic.twitter.com/mIN2vh6mQy
— Chinese Women’s Hoop Show (@CWHoopShow) January 3, 2026
Zhang finished with 15 points and six rebounds in 13 minutes during her debut.
7’5″ Zhang Ziyu dropped 15 PTS in her pro debut.
She’s the tallest female hooper in the world at 18 years old 😳 (via WCBA) pic.twitter.com/XQIL4z0K7f
— Overtime (@overtime) January 4, 2026
That was a good start but her two most recent performances are the most impressive.
Zhang first went head-to-head with Kamilla Cardoso. Cardoso was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky after an All-American career at South Carolina.
pic.twitter.com/dmLVDN1G4z
— @balapattyszn (@balapattyvids) April 6, 2024
Zhang finished with 10 points, two rebounds and three blocks in 14 minutes.
🇨🇳🏀 7’5″ Zhang Ziyu delivered in limited minutes in the win over defending champions Guangdong:
⏱️ 14 MIN🔥 10 PTS💪 2 REB🚫 3 BLK 🎯 4/6 FG
18-year-old matched up against #WNBA @chicagosky center @Kamillascsilva during the game.#basketball #WCBA pic.twitter.com/Xk52vyDjIz
— CGTN Sports Scene (@CGTNSportsScene) January 13, 2026
And then she went against Kalani Brown. Brown was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft after an All-American career at Baylor.
Zhang finished with seven points, one rebound and one block in 13 minutes.
Zhang Ziyu (18, 7’5”) vs. Kalani Brown in her second professional game:
13 MIN – 7 PTS – 1 REB – 1 BLK – 3/4 FG
📹: 闹他#WCBA pic.twitter.com/epYF5DBNWP
— Chinese Women’s Hoop Show (@CWHoopShow) January 7, 2026
Brown is one of the best defensive players in the WNBA. Cardoso is a bully in the paint. Zhang Ziyu held her own against both of them.
This was the first test for the 7-foot-3 18-year-old. It proved she can hang!
