Talking Basketball｜China Women’s Basketball Team Suffers Heavy Defeat in Berlin Opener, but Still Shows Glimmers of Hope

Poster News

On September 4, the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tipped off in Berlin, Germany. In the first round of Group D, the rebuilding Chinese women’s basketball team faced defending champions the United States. After four quarters of play, China lost 61-94 and suffered an opening defeat in the tournament. The 33-point margin was certainly eye-catching, but the players do not deserve one-sided criticism. Competing with a depleted roster and many newcomers making their World Cup debuts, this tough game was both a harsh test and a valuable practical lesson.

Weaknesses Exposed Against a Strong Opponent

Growing Pains Are a Necessary Part of Development

The U.S. women’s basketball team has long stood at the top of the global game, with an extraordinary winning record in major tournaments. Its roster depth, transition speed and perimeter firepower are all at an elite level. In contrast, China entered this game without a complete lineup. Li Yueru was absent, Wang Siyu was unavailable due to injury, and only a few members of the previous World Cup runner-up squad remained, while most other players were making their first World Cup appearance.

The two teams stayed close briefly at the start, but the U.S. quickly found its rhythm from outside, hitting five three-pointers in the first quarter and opening up the gap. In the second quarter, China launched a comeback surge and once cut the deficit to seven points, offering hope of a closer contest. However, China’s outside shooting was inconsistent, making only 5 of 19 three-point attempts overall. Against the opponent’s intense defensive pressure, the guards struggled to organize the offense, turnovers increased, and sustained attacks were difficult to establish.

The large gap on the scoreboard cannot be ignored. Issues such as a lack of smooth transitions between offense and defense, insufficient ability to handle pressure in major tournaments, and limited experience among young players in high-intensity competition were fully exposed against a world-class opponent. Honestly facing the gap is the first step toward improvement.

High-intensity battle (Image source: Oriental IC)

Highlights Amid the Heavy Defeat

Looking Ahead to the Remaining Journey

One loss does not mean everything is bleak. Beneath the appearance of a lopsided defeat, there were still signs of promise. Han Xu recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, holding the interior together and stabilizing the team’s foundation. Nineteen-year-old Zhang Ziyu made her World Cup debut, scoring 13 points with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks off the bench. She also made 9 of 10 free throws, displaying outstanding talent in the paint and causing problems for the opponent. Luo Xinyu also scored 13 points, repeatedly keeping the team alive with her offense.

For this young team, the experience gained from facing the world’s strongest teams is more valuable than the result itself. The goal of this World Cup is not limited to this one matchup. The true test for advancing from the group will come in the following games against Italy and the Czech Republic.

Zhang Ziyu also became a key player targeted for special defensive attention by opponents (Image source: Oriental IC)

Losing the high-profile clash with the United States does not require falling into disappointment. China can use this defeat as a mirror, identify problems, make adjustments and reset mentally. Leaving behind the frustration of the heavy loss, the team must gather strength for the next two crucial battles, fight for a place in the knockout stage, and allow its young players to continue developing through international competition. This is the most important value left by China’s opening game in Berlin.

Editor: Cai Wei

Reviewed by: Qu Xinping