Chinese basketball player Yang Shuyu (left) dribbles the ball during the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifier against Mali in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province on March 11, 2026. Photo: VCG

The Chinese national women's basketball team opened its campaign at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifiers with an 81-68 victory over Mali on home court on Wednesday.

The host team battled through four quarters, posting scores of 20-20, 15-9, 22-20 and 24-20, in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province.

China's Li Yueru led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Yang Shuyu added 14 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Han Xu contributed 14 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Zhang Ziyu chipped in 12 points and three rebounds.

China holds an advantageous position in the Wuhan qualifiers. Playing at home provides both a psychological boost and a familiar environment, which could help the team maintain focus and intensity, Guo Ai, a sports commentator based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

China is competing in the Wuhan qualifying group alongside Belgium, Brazil, South Sudan, the Czech Republic and Mali.

China's roster features centers Li Yueru, Han Xu and rising prospect Zhang Ziyu; forwards Zhang Ru, Luo Xinyu, Chen Mingling and Tang ­Ziting; and a backcourt of five guards - Chen Yujie, Zhang Manman, Wang Siyu, Wang Jiaqi and Yang Shuyu.

From a roster perspective, China's women's basketball team enters the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifiers with a clear advantage in size and physical presence, said Guo. 

Stars Han Xu and Li Yueru both stand around 2 meters tall, while rising center Zhang Ziyu reaches 2.26 meters, a height rarely seen in international women's basketball. Many European and US teams feature centers in the 1.9-2 meters range. "It means China could pose a significant threat in the paint if it controls the game in half-court sets," added Guo. 

However, the team faces a notable challenge in its backcourt. In recent years, players like Li Meng and Wang Siyu served as the national team's perimeter core, combining play-making and scoring in key moments. The current younger guards have speed and physicality but still lack experience reading defenses and controlling game tempo at the international level, Guo noted.

China began preparations for the qualifiers with a training camp on January 4 and has played several warm-up games in recent weeks. The team remained undefeated in its pre-tournament schedule, which included two narrow victories over Brazil and a convincing win against the Czech Republic.

"I hope our young guards can rise to the challenge (of making plays for the post players) at the qualifying tournament," head coach Gong ­Luming said after leading China to an 85-51 rout of the Czech Republic in its final warm-up on Sunday in Wuhan.

"We have world-class post players, so we need to accommodate their presence with excellent play-making in the guard position. This will be a key criterion in measuring our ability to be competitive on the world's highest stage in the future," said Gong.

The Wuhan qualifying event is one of four regional tournaments being held to determine the remaining spots in the 2026 Women's Basketball World Cup to be held in Berlin, Germany in September. Belgium has already secured a berth in the final tournament after winning the European championship, leaving the other five teams in the group competing for three available places.

China's schedule includes the game against Mali, followed by matches against Belgium on Thursday, South Sudan on Saturday, the Czech Republic on Sunday and Brazil on Tuesday.

The demanding schedule, five games in seven days, will test the team's depth, conditioning and ability to rotate players effectively, noted Guo. The qualifiers will also serve as an important step in the ongoing rebuilding process for the Chinese national team, which has been integrating younger players alongside experienced veterans as it prepares for the next cycle of international competition.

According to Guo, many teams are increasing their reliance on three-point shooting, with European squads emphasizing spacing and fast ball movement. If China's perimeter defense rotates slowly, opponents could exploit outside shooting to open up the floor. Adjusting to this trend will be critical for China in the coming years.

If the team executes its game plan effectively, qualifying for the FIBA Women's World Cup remains a realistic goal. Beyond the immediate tournament, the experience will help younger players quickly adapt to international competition, an essential step for China as it prepares for the next Olympic cycle, said Guo.