China's 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu looms over opponents on debut at Women’s Basketball World Cup

BERLIN (AP) — China’s Zhang Ziyu had everyone looking up to her on the opening day of the Women’s Basketball World Cup on Friday.The 19-year-old Zhang is 7-foot-3 (2.21 meters) and gave the United States a tough physical challenge to overcome in the four-time defending champion's opening 94-61 victory at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin.Zhang is taller than basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and just an inch shorter than San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama.The 6-3 (1.91m) Aliyah Boston looked small in comparison as she stubbornly held her ground to hold Zhang scoreless in the first quarter. Kiki Iriafen, also 6-3 (1.91m), took her turn later as the American defense focused on limiting the damage Zhang could cause over the 18 minutes she played.“There’s not much you can do to stop her when she gets it really close to the basket,” U.S. “She was really efficient from the free throw line as well.”There was a buzz of excitement any time Zhang appeared on court and ultimately the teenager finished with 13 points on her worlds debut, nine of those from free throws.“I would give her a pass,” China coach Gong Luming said in translated comments.

“It’s excellent, pass or fail, so pass. As a young player to play against such great level of intensity and physicality, she’s doing OK.”Lawson was more forthcoming with her praise.“We had a hard time and she got too close, and she makes you pay with that. So I think there’s a lot of upside to her,” the coach said.

"She’s still a very young player but I think to be this young and to be in a World Cup and to go against the top players is only going to help her continue to grow.”China’s tall centersZhang had support from 6-10 (2.09m) Han Xu, already familiar to the U.S. team from her WNBA games with the New York Liberty.If not for a passport mishap, Zhang and Han would have been joined by another center — 6-7 (2.01m) Li Yueru, who plays with the WNBA's Dallas Wings. Li posted on social media Wednesday that her passport was lost in the mail and she won’t be able to compete.Han finished with 11 points including one three-pointer.Zhang’s special preparationsZhang did individual exercises with a personal trainer while the rest of the team warmed up on the court before Friday’s game.Gong said the player needed a special training regime because of her physical attributes.“She’s a very special a…