China's 7‑foot‑5 wonder makes big debut - Сheck out jaw‑dropping highlights
Zhang Ziyu towers over her opponents (photo: fiba.basketball)
Zhang Ziyu, an 18-year-old center, made her senior debut for China's national team. At 7'5", she has become the tallest player in women's basketball history.
Spectacular debut for national team
Her debut for the national team took place during friendly matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both games ended in crushing victories for the Chinese team—101:55 and 127:56. Over the course of the two games, Ziyu spent 27 minutes on the court, scored 34 points, and recorded 14 rebounds.
Bosnian players struggled hard to guard China’s 2.26 meter tall star Zhang Ziyu
— Tansu Yegen (@TansuYegen) June 17, 2025
pic.twitter.com/ooXXEGO9zD
Due to her towering height, opponents look like true dwarfs next to her. This is not only visually striking but also significantly enhances China’s game. Near both baskets, she can play almost unchallenged.
Who is Zhang Ziyu
She was born in Jinan. Both of her parents were basketball players. She began training at the age of five.
In 2021, at the age of 14, she scored 68 points and grabbed 24 rebounds in a provincial championship game in Shandong. A video of that game went viral on social media worldwide.
In January 2024, at the U-18 Women's Asia Cup, Ziyu earned MVP honors thanks to her averages of 35 points and more than 12 rebounds per game.
This year, she was called up for the first time to join China's senior national team. Her name is on the preliminary roster for the 2025 Women's Asia Cup, which will take place in June and July in China.
The phenomenal athlete is receiving special attention in her home country. She works closely with psychologists, physiologists, and personal trainers. WNBA scouts are keeping a close eye on Ziyu. However, according to league rules, she will not be eligible to sign a contract until she turns 20.
Tallest women in basketball
Among players who have competed at the top level, the tallest in history is Polish basketball player Małgorzata Dydek, who stood at 218 cm (7'2").
From 1992 to 2008, she played for clubs in Poland, France, and Spain. She also spent eight seasons in the WNBA, where she was the all-time leader in blocked shots and was twice selected for the WNBA All-Star Team.
Before Dydek, the tallest player was Latvian basketball legend Uļjana Semjonova, who stood at 213 cm (7'0"). She played from 1967 to 1989. Semjonova is a two-time Olympic champion with the USSR national team and an 11-time winner of the European Champions Cup with the Riga-based team TTT.
