Rising Star Shines Bright! China’s New Women’s Basketball Sensation Drops 33 Points and 7 Rebounds as Li Meng’s Successor

At the 2025 National Women’s Basketball Championship, Chinese forward Zhai Ruoyun delivered an explosive offensive performance, averaging 20.2 points per game to top the tournament’s scoring chart ahead of several national team stars. At 27, Zhai’s journey has been one of perseverance and late blooming — having earned her first-ever call-up to the Chinese Women’s National Team this year and representing the squad at the Women’s Asia Cup, she has quickly proven herself as a key shooter under coach Gong Luming’s system.

After gaining valuable experience on the international stage, Zhai returned to the domestic circuit stronger than ever — transforming into a fearless scoring powerhouse. Her performances at both the National Games Qualifiers and the National Championship have been nothing short of dominant, cementing her status as one of China’s most dynamic and dazzling new-generation players.

In a thrilling placement-round matchup against Zhejiang, Zhai showcased her all-around excellence — logging 38 minutes, shooting 11-of-23 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. She finished with an impressive 33 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, leading Shanxi to a hard-fought 94–88 victory.

Despite Shanxi missing several key players, Zhai embraced her role as the team’s offensive anchor and carried them into the top six of the competition.

As of now, Zhai leads the tournament in scoring with 20.2 points per game, followed by Liu Yutong (19.7), Luo Xinyu (17.2), Han Xu (16.6), and Fang Min and Ma Wen tied at 15.8 apiece.

Zhai’s basketball roots trace back to her university days, where she starred for Tianjin University of Finance and Economics. During her collegiate career, she once erupted for 50 points in a single game, sinking 8 of 9 from three-point range. With a career total of 1,526 points, she remains the all-time scoring leader in the university league — a testament to her natural scoring instincts and relentless drive to excel.

Today, as she continues to rise on the national stage, Zhai Ruoyun is not just a symbol of strength and skill — she’s the embodiment of China’s new era of women’s basketball brilliance.