For WNBA standards, Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese is tall. However, China’s Zhang Ziyu absolutely towers over her.
Reese was tasked with guarding Zhang Ziyu when China and Team USA squared off in the first game of group play in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Friday.
At 6-foot-3, Reese certainly isn’t short, but Ziyu is an astounding 7-foot-3 and makes just about every human on the planet look tiny.
And that was no doubt the case when Reese was fighting for her life while trying to guard Ziyu in the post.
Not only is Reese shorter, but Ziyu has more mass than her, also, which only made Reese’s job more difficult. Kudos to the Dream star for hanging in tough, though.
Reese and the rest of Team USA ended up doing a decent job on the China center, who came off the bench and finished the game with 13 points.
MORE: FIBA Women’s World Cup TV schedule, full list of games
The vast majority of those points came from the free-throw line, where Ziyu was an impressive 9-of-10. She was just 2-of-4 shooting overall.
We’re used to seeing bigs in basketball struggle from the free-throw line, but that was not the case for the Chinese star.
Team USA vs. China recap
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) before the game against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters).
Team USA managed to take care of business against the underdog China, wining 94-61.
Team USA had three leading scorers, including Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard and Paige Bueckers, all of whom came off the bench and contributed 14 points.
Ziyu was tied for the team lead with her 13 points, along with Luo Xinyu.
MORE: WNBA’s Li Yueru forced to miss FIBA World Cup
It was immediately clear China had big problems against a superior opponent.
Team USA jumped out to a 13-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
Up next for Team USA is Italy, and China will take on the Czechia. Both of those contests will take place on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Caitlin Clark assists Angel Reese bucket
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts against the LA Sparks in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Reese-Clark rivalry is taking a rest for this FIBA World Cup, as the two ladies are on the same team, which no doubt takes getting used to because they have been foes since college.
We did see Reese and Clark hook up for a bucket, though, as Clark notched her double-double after an assist on a Reese basket.
Reese, who like Clark also came off the bench, finished the game with five points on 2-of-4 shooting, nine rebounds and one block.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —