Dallas Wings center Li Yueru won’t be repping China in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, and it’s a gut punch for her and the squad. The reason? Her passport literally got lost in the mail and hasn’t shown up yet. This isn’t just a minor travel snag; it’s a huge blow for China’s national team, especially with their opener right around the corner.
The Brutal Reality of a Lost Passport
Li took to social media to break the news, confirming that her passport “was lost in the mail and still hasn’t been found.” You can feel the frustration in her words, right? She said, “Throughout this time, we’ve all been working hard together and exploring every possible solution, but maybe we were just a little short on luck this time.” It’s tough, man. Sometimes life just throws you a curveball you can’t hit. The 27-year-old expressed her sadness but also gratitude for the support for Chinese women’s basketball. Currently in her fourth WNBA season, Li’s averaging 3.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks in 10.3 minutes per game with the Wings. While those aren’t eye-popping numbers, her impact on the national stage is a completely different story, and that’s where this absence really stings.
China’s World Cup Hopes Take a Massive Hit
This isn’t just about a player missing a tournament; it’s about a critical piece of China’s puzzle disappearing. Li has been a cornerstone for China in major tournaments before. In the 2022 World Cup, she was third on the team in points with 10.1 and second in rebounds with 7.6, helping China snag a silver medal. And get this: at the 2024 Summer Olympics, she was averaging a massive double-double, putting up 17.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, even though China couldn’t make it out of the group stage. That’s a huge stat line to just lose!
Now, coach Gong Luming has to scramble. He’ll need to lean way harder on Han Xu, another big who’s got experience playing at the highest levels. Plus, this is going to be a massive showcase for the 7’2″ 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu. China won’t have the luxury of easing into the World Cup at all. They’re slated to face off against the United States this Friday in their very first game. Without Li on the court, that opener just got a whole lot tougher, making it a huge test for coach Luming and the squad right out of the gate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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