Li Yueru out of FIBA World Cup after passport lost in mail — SkimNews
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- Li Yueru announced on Instagram that her passport was lost in the mail and could not be replaced in time, forcing her out of the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin.
- China faces the United States on Friday in its tournament opener without the 6-foot-7 center, who was expected to start.
- Li led China to silver at the 2022 World Cup, posting 19 points and 12 rebounds in the Final loss to the US, and was China's leading scorer and rebounder at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- The source calls Li's absence 'a huge blow' to China's medal hopes, though China still has frontcourt size with 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu and 6-foot-9 Han Xu.
- Li was drafted 35th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2019 WNBA Draft and has played for Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Seattle Storm, and Dallas Wings.
- Li won an Unrivaled championship with Mist BC this season, playing alongside Breanna Stewart, Arike Ogunbowale, Allisha Gray, Veronica Burton and Alanna Smith.
Why it matters: China loses its most accomplished active center right before a tournament opener against the US, and while replacement options Zhang Ziyu (7-foot-3) and Han Xu (6-foot-9) provide height, the source explicitly flags Li's absence as 'a huge blow' to a team chasing its first World Cup podium finish since 2022's silver medal.
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