One big aspect of the WNBA’s success is its competitive nature, with many top players from around the world entering the league to test their skills against the toughest opponents. In the upcoming WNBA draft, Awa Fam is the top prospect, already making serious noise with her play. But ahead of the Spanish sensation, Chinese star Zhang Ziyu attracts everyone’s attention, and she is not even WNBA draft-eligible.
The 18-year-old star generated significant curiosity among the WNBA fanbase with her recent performance at the U18 Asia Cup. Here are details about the WNBA’s future megastar.
Zhang Ziyu: WNBA’s Future Sensation
WNBA fans saw Margo Dydek towering over the opponents for 11 seasons. She is still the league’s all-time blocks leader and led the league in blocks for eight seasons. While the Polish star was a 7-foot-2 ‘defensive monster’ on the floor, Zhang Ziyu is the tallest player in women’s basketball history at 7-foot-3. She is only 18 years old.
With her unprecedented height and dominance in youth tournaments, the star already debuted professionally in China’s WCBA. Born to former players, she’s known for overwhelming opponents and earning MVP honors, leading the Chinese national team to a second-place finish with 35 points and 12.8 rebounds per game at the U18 Asia Cup tournament.
Zhang Ziyu (18, 7'5") getting ready for her #WCBA debut tomorrow pic.twitter.com/mIN2vh6mQy
— Chinese Women's Hoop Show (@CWHoopShow) January 3, 2026
Even though the player can still improve in many areas, she is already being compared to former WNBA players for her control in the paint.
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In the WCBA season, she faced Kamilla Cardoso, finishing with 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 14 minutes. Then she matched veteran Kalani Brown and finished with seven points, one rebound, and one block in 13 minutes.
While the 2026 WNBA top picks are currently the focal point of many franchises, the Chinese youngster is already securing a place in the 2027 draft.
WNBA Could Use International Stars To Maintain Its Global Dominance
With Project B posing a serious threat to the WNBA’s monopoly in Women’s basketball, the addition of players like Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam, and Ziyu would certainly keep the league afloat. While the new league enters the competition with big pockets, it can counter them with its competitive nature, which fans would love to see instead of big money on the floor.
Now it’s up to the players to choose between quality and quantity. The WNBA is even trying to match Project B and Unrivaled’s pay scales in due time. Currently, the league is ready to offer $1 million to top players and will eventually increase it as they reach the end of current CBA discussions.
As for fans, they are always excited to see new talent in the mix, challenging the league’s established stars and pushing them to the limit.