Zhang Ziyu is a Chinese professional basketball player and teenage phenomenon who has captured global attention for her extraordinary height and rapid rise through the sport. A center for Shandong in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association, she stands an astonishing 2.21 metres tall, making her taller than every player in WNBA history and one of the tallest competitive basketball players in the world. The daughter of two former basketball players, she dominated at youth level, became the first Chinese woman to dunk in an official game, and in 2026 made her debut for the Chinese national team at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, drawing worldwide fascination.
Zhang Ziyu Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Zhang Ziyu |
| Chinese Name | 张子宇 |
| Date of Birth | 1 May 2007 |
| Age (2026) | 19 years |
| Birthplace | Jinan, Shandong, China |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Height | 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Position | Center |
| Club | Shandong (WCBA) |
| League | Women’s Chinese Basketball Association |
| Notable Honour | 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup MVP |
Zhang Ziyu Events
| Area | Detail |
| Height | Taller than any player in WNBA history |
| Youth | A dominant force at junior and youth levels |
| Milestone | First Chinese woman to dunk in an official game |
| U18 honour | MVP of the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup |
| Professional | Debuted in the WCBA with Shandong in 2026 |
| National team | Made her senior World Cup debut in 2026 |
Zhang Ziyu Events
| Year | Event |
| 1 May 2007 | Born in Jinan, Shandong, China |
| Around 2012 | Began learning basketball from her parents |
| 2023 | Starred at the U17 national championship |
| 2024 | Named MVP of the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup |
| January 2026 | Made her professional WCBA debut for Shandong |
| 2026 | Played in the World Cup qualifiers for China |
| September 2026 | Made her senior World Cup debut in Berlin |
Zhang Ziyu Early Life and Family
Zhang Ziyu was born on 1 May 2007 in Jinan, in China’s Shandong province, into a family steeped in basketball. Both of her parents were basketball players, and her mother, a former member of the Chinese national team, along with her father, began teaching her the game when she was around five years old. Blessed with exceptional height from a young age, and guided by her family’s expertise, she developed rapidly into a prodigious talent, setting her on a path toward the top level of the sport while still a teenager.
Zhang Ziyu Youth and Early Career
Zhang Ziyu made a powerful impression at youth level as her talent and stature set her apart. She was the star player for Shandong at the national under-17 championship in 2023, delivering a commanding performance in the final, and she continued to dominate age-group competition. Her breakthrough on the international stage came at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women’s Asia Cup, where she was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after a historic performance in the final, and she also made history around this time as the first Chinese woman to dunk in an official game.
Zhang Ziyu Basketball Career
Zhang Ziyu’s Professional Debut
Zhang Ziyu took her first step into professional basketball at the start of 2026, making her debut in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association with the Shandong club. Coming off the bench in her first game, she immediately made her mark with an efficient scoring and rebounding performance in limited minutes, demonstrating that she could overpower experienced professional opponents, including former WNBA players, in the country’s top domestic league. Her composed and productive arrival at senior club level confirmed the promise she had shown throughout her youth career.
Zhang Ziyu and the National Team
Zhang Ziyu rose quickly to the senior national level, representing China in the qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, where she posted strong scoring numbers. She was named to China’s roster for the World Cup itself, held in 2026, and made her tournament debut in Berlin against the defending champions, the United States. Coming off the bench, she recorded a team-high points tally along with rebounds and blocks, and her towering presence sparked a social-media sensation, drawing worldwide attention and praise even in a losing effort for her team.
Zhang Ziyu’s Height and Playing Style
Zhang Ziyu is defined most immediately by her remarkable height of 2.21 metres, which makes her taller than any player in WNBA history and only a few inches shorter than the tallest players in men’s professional basketball. This extraordinary size gives her an overwhelming physical presence in the paint, where she scores efficiently, rebounds and blocks shots with ease. As a young player, the focus of her development is on areas such as mobility, conditioning and defending in space, but her sheer size, soft scoring touch and strong free-throw shooting already make her a uniquely dominant force.
Zhang Ziyu Personal Life
Zhang Ziyu comes from a close basketball family in Shandong, where both of her parents played the sport and helped shape her development from an early age. As a young athlete at the start of her career, she has kept her personal life largely private, with her public identity centred on her basketball and her rapid, closely watched rise through the ranks of the Chinese and international game. Her story, blending a rare physical gift with a strong family basketball heritage, has made her one of the most talked-about young players in the world.
Zhang Ziyu Height and Physical Profile
Zhang Ziyu stands 2.21 metres, or 7 feet 3 inches, tall, an exceptional height that is the defining feature of her identity as a player. She is taller than the tallest player in WNBA history and then the tallest verified living woman, and only slightly shorter than the tallest player in the NBA. Her height, combined with her developing skills, gives her a historic and unprecedented physical presence on the basketball court.
Zhang Ziyu Net Worth and Earnings
As a young professional at the very start of her career, Zhang Ziyu’s finances relate primarily to her club contract in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association and any associated opportunities that come with her rising profile. A precise, reliably verified net-worth figure is not part of the public record for such a young player, and this profile does not put forward one. Her circumstances reflect those of an emerging teenage athlete rather than an established veteran, and any figures should be treated with caution.
| Source | Detail |
| Earnings context | Her professional WCBA club career |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented for a young player |
Zhang Ziyu Social Media
Zhang Ziyu has become a viral sensation on social media, particularly following her World Cup debut, with images and clips of her towering presence drawing enormous global attention and commentary from fans and players alike.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| Public attention | International basketball and social media | How she has gone viral |
| Public information | Basketball and sports media | How news about her is reported |
Zhang Ziyu Controversies
No personal controversy involving Zhang Ziyu surfaced in the material examined for this profile. Coverage of her has focused entirely on her basketball career, her extraordinary height, her youth achievements and her World Cup debut. Some basketball discussion has centred on tactical debates about how best to use a player of her unique size, but this is ordinary sporting analysis rather than any personal controversy.
Lesser Known Facts About Zhang Ziyu
- Her Chinese name is 张子宇.
- She was born in Jinan, in Shandong province, in 2007.
- Both of her parents were basketball players.
- Her mother played for the Chinese national team.
- She was the first Chinese woman to dunk in an official game.
- She was named MVP of the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup.
- She is taller than any player in WNBA history.
Zhang Ziyu FAQ
Who is Zhang Ziyu?
She is a Chinese professional basketball player and teenage phenom, a center for Shandong known for her extraordinary 2.21-metre height.
How old is Zhang Ziyu?
Born on 1 May 2007, she will be 19 years old in 2026.
How tall is Zhang Ziyu?
She stands 2.21 metres, or 7 feet 3 inches, tall, making her taller than any player in WNBA history.
What is Zhang Ziyu known for?
She is known for her remarkable height, her dominant youth performances, being the first Chinese woman to dunk in an official game, and her 2026 World Cup debut.
What team does Zhang Ziyu play for?
She plays for the Shandong club in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.
Has Zhang Ziyu played for China’s national team?
Yes, she represented China in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and made her senior World Cup debut in Berlin in September 2026.
What award did Zhang Ziyu win in 2024?
She was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women’s Asia Cup.
Where is Zhang Ziyu from?
She was born in Jinan, in Shandong province, China.
Who are Zhang Ziyu’s parents?
Both of her parents were basketball players, and her mother played for the Chinese national team.
Why did Zhang Ziyu go viral?
Her extraordinary height, towering over WNBA stars during her World Cup debut against the United States, sparked a global social-media sensation.
Sources
Olympics.com, FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026: Zhang Ziyu, the 19-year-old taking basketball to new heights
, https://www.olympics.com/en/news/zhang-ziyu-womens-basketball-new-heights
FIBA, Zhang Ziyu takes first pro step as rise continues,
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/zhang-ziyu-takes-first-pro-step-as-rise-continues
South China Morning Post, China’s Zhang Ziyu a towering presence on debut, but US win World Cup basketball clash,
https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3366474/chinas-zhang-ziyu-towering-presence-debut-us-win-world-cup-basketball-clash
Associated Press (via KSAT), China’s 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu looms over opponents on debut at Women’s Basketball World Cup,
https://www.ksat.com/sports/2026/09/04/duo-standing-7-foot-3-and-6-10-has-teams-looking-up-to-china-at-womens-basketball-world-cup/