China women's basketball secures second group spot at World Cup

The Chinese women's basketball team has secured second place in their group at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup following a 71-51 victory over Italy in Berlin. This win follows a previous overtime victory against the Czech Republic, which helped the team recover after an opening loss to the United States.

New York Liberty center Han Xu led the team against Italy with 19 points and 10 rebounds, marking her second consecutive double-double. The team also featured 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu, a 223cm (7ft 4in) center who scored eight points with perfect field goal shooting.

Zhang has drawn significant international attention due to her height, which exceeds that of Shaquille O’Neal. While her physical presence has been noted by players like US star Caitlin Clark, teammates and peers have emphasized her need for continued development. China will next face Puerto Rico in a play-off to determine seeding for the quarter-finals.