Zhang Ziyu: The 7’3″ Chinese Center Who Is the Tallest Woman in Basketball
Zhang Ziyu is a 19-year-old center from China who is listed at 7’3″ to 7’4″ (2.20 to 2.23 meters), which makes her the tallest player in women’s basketball. She plays for Shandong in China’s WCBA, made her World Cup debut in September 2026, and becomes eligible for the WNBA draft in 2027. This profile covers her record so far, game by game where we have it, and what evaluators think happens next.
Zhang Ziyu at a glance
| Born | 2007, Jinan, China |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Height | 7’3″ to 7’4″ (2.20 m to 2.23 m, both from FIBA) |
| Club | Shandong Six Stars (WCBA) |
| National team | China, since June 2025 |
| Honors | 2024 FIBA U18 Asia Cup MVP; 2025 FIBA Asia Cup bronze medal |
| 2026 World Cup | China finished 7th of 16 |
| WNBA draft | Eligible in 2027 |
| Database status | Listed at 7’4″ |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Who Is Zhang Ziyu?
Zhang was born in 2007 in Jinan, in Shandong province. Both of her parents played basketball, and her mother encouraged her to start, according to the Associated Press.
Her height is listed differently even by the same organization. FIBA’s 2026 World Cup profile says 2.23 m; FIBA’s earlier tournament pages say 2.20 m. The Associated Press uses 7’3″.
The 2024 FIBA U18 Asia Cup
This was the tournament that made her name. Zhang averaged 35.0 points and 12.8 rebounds, led the event in both and was named MVP.
- Against Japan she scored 44 points, a tournament record, and missed only two of her 22 shots.
- In the final she had 42 points and 14 rebounds, but China lost 96-79 to Australia.
Senior Debut and First Professional Season
She joined the senior national team in June 2025 and played at the FIBA Asia Cup a month later. In her first game she had 13 points in under 12 minutes against Indonesia. China won bronze, and she averaged about 15 points a game.
Her professional debut came on 4 January 2026: 15 points and 6 rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench for Shandong. In 13 WCBA games that season she averaged 9.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in under nine minutes, shooting 77.3% from the field.
The pattern is consistent. Her teams use her in short bursts, and she scores at a very high rate when she plays.
Zhang Ziyu at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup
| Date | Opponent | Result | Her line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 September | United States | Lost 94-61 | 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 9-of-10 free throws in 18 minutes |
| 6 September | Czechia | Won 74-70 in overtime | 3 points |
| Group stage | Italy | Won 71-51 | 8 points without a missed shot |
| 9 September | Puerto Rico | Won 75-72 | 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in about nine minutes |
| 10 September | France (quarterfinal) | Lost 90-61 | 7 points; France double-teamed her on every touch |
China finished seventh. The United States won the title. The video above shows her first game.
Scouting Report: Strengths and Weaknesses
What she does well
- Scoring at the basket. Once she catches the ball deep, there is very little a defender can do. USA coach Kara Lawson said as much after their game.
- Touch. She made 9 of 10 free throws against the United States and shot 77% from the field in her first professional season.
- Efficiency. She produces in very few minutes.
What holds her back
- Mobility. Yahoo Sports notes she can be exposed on the perimeter and in transition.
- Minutes. Her teams have used her in short stints so far: 18 minutes against the United States, about nine against Puerto Rico and under nine a game in her first WCBA season.
- Counters. France showed the plan: double-team her and make someone else score.
Will Zhang Ziyu Play in the WNBA?
She can be drafted in 2027, the year she turns 20. Projections are far apart. Yahoo Sports expects a second- or third-round pick who stays in China at first; HighPost Hoops has floated her as a candidate for the top of the draft. We found no formal mock draft that lists her, and we found no public comment from a WNBA coach or executive.
The fair summary: her size is unprecedented, her skill is real, and nobody yet knows whether she can defend and run at WNBA speed for 25 minutes a night.
Is Zhang Ziyu the Tallest Women’s Basketball Player Ever?
By FIBA’s listing, yes. Its ranking of the tallest women’s players of all time has Zhang first at 2.20 m, ahead of Poland’s Margo Dydek and China’s Chen Yuefang at 2.18 m. Dydek, at 7’2″, remains the tallest player in WNBA history. See our full list of the tallest women in basketball today.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Zhang Ziyu?
FIBA has listed her at 2.20 m (7’3″) and at 2.23 m (7’4″). The Associated Press uses 7’3″. Some Chinese media reports give higher figures that are not official.
How old is Zhang Ziyu?
She was born in May 2007 and turned 19 in 2026.
When can Zhang Ziyu enter the WNBA draft?
In 2027, the year she turns 20.
How did Zhang Ziyu play at the 2026 World Cup?
She scored 13 points against the United States and 13 against Puerto Rico, usually in fewer than 20 minutes a game. China lost to France in the quarterfinals and finished seventh.
Is Zhang Ziyu taller than Margo Dydek?
By FIBA’s listings, yes: 2.20 m for Zhang and 2.18 m (7’2″) for Dydek, who is the tallest player in WNBA history.
Zhang Ziyu in our database
Zhang is one of two women in our database of active players at 7’0″ or taller. The other is Stephanie Okechukwu of Texas Tech.
Sources: FIBA, the Associated Press, Yahoo Sports, China.org.cn, South China Morning Post, theScore and Wikipedia. Basketball facts only. Last checked 9 October 2026.
