7'2" Chinese Teen, Zhang Ziyu, Sets Girls' Scoring Record At FIBA U18 Asia Cup

Zhang Ziyu is a 17-year-old Chinese girl. She is a basketball player. And she also happens to be 7-foot-2. I probably should have led with that.

Ziyu first hit OutKick's radar back in 2021 when Joe Kinsey reported that she was tearing up girls at the U15 level in basketball. 

Well, three years later, she's still towering over her opponents, but now she's doing it at the U18 level. This week, China is competing in the FIBA Asia Cup and Ziyu is dominating girls who are, almost literally, half her size. 

In the team's first game, a 109-50 domination over Indonesia, Ziyu came off the bench and scored 19 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in just 13 minutes of game action. 

Zhang Ziyu, a 17-year-old Chinese basketball player, stands 7'2" and made her international debut during the FIBA U18 Asia Cup.

(VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

In game two, a slightly closer but still blowout win over New Zealand (90-68), Ziyu started, played 27 minutes, and scored 36 points, while adding 13 rebounds. 

But those were just warm-ups for Wednesday's performance. Ziyu scored 44 points, the most-ever in a FIBA U18 Asia Cup game. She shot a ridiculous 20-22 from the field, as no girl in the tournament can defend her in the post.

Ziyu added 14 rebounds and five assists, leading China to a win over Japan, 97-81, and advancing China right to the semifinals of the tournament. 

Over the three tournament games, Ziyu averaged 33 points, 12 more than the next leading scorer, and shot 88 percent from the field. She also leads all players with 11 rebounds per game. 

The question is obvious: when will she make her way to the WNBA? If women in the WNBA are already mad about Caitlin Clark, can you imagine how they would react to a giant Chinese woman coming in and dominating? 

Oh man, what if Clark and Ziyu team up for Indiana? Can you imagine that pick-and-roll game? 

Get your popcorn ready!