BEIJING (China) - Another chapter has begun in the rapid rise of Zhang Ziyu to start the new year, as the teenage phenom made her professional debut in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association and immediately left her mark.
Coming off the bench for Shandong on January 4, the 18-year-old center delivered 15 points and 6 rebounds in just 12 minutes, shooting an efficient 6-of-9 from the field as her team pulled away late for a 106-93 victory.
It was a composed first step at senior club level for a player whose career so far has been defined by accelerated growth and moments well beyond her years.
That composure has been forged on the FIBA stage.
Zhang first captured global attention at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2024, where she dominated the competition with historic numbers, including a 42-point, 14-rebound performance in the Final to earn MVP honors. She carried that momentum into the senior international game in 2025, averaging 15.6 points and 5.6 rebounds at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 as China claimed bronze, showing she could impact games even against seasoned veterans.
Now transitioning into the professional ranks, Zhang’s WCBA debut underlined both her readiness and her runway. As China continues its preparations toward future global competitions, her development at club level will be closely watched.
China head coach, Gong Luming, assembled a 15-woman training camp roster that gathered in Beijing to prepare for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Wuhan. While, Zhang was not a part of the training camp roster, she has not been ruled out of making the final roster.
"Promising young players like Zhang Ziyu will get tested, improve themselves and gain experience in the WCBA league to better contribute to the Chinese women's basketball," said Gong.
The tools are already evident, the experience steadily accumulating - and if her FIBA journey is any indication, Zhang Ziyu’s journey to stardom is only just getting started.
FIBA