Angel Reese's on-court battle and foul against 7-foot-4 China star, 19, turns heads
Angel Reese's on-court battle and foul against 7-foot-4 China star, 19, turns heads
Oscar Maung-Haley Fri, September 4, 2026 at 4:07 PM UTC
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#19 Zhang Ziyu tries to block #11 Napheesa Collier during the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Group D match between Team USA and China -Credit:Getty Images
Angel Reese's on-court battle with China's Zhang Ziyu turned the heads of basketball fans on social media, who were stunned by the size difference between the pair.
Since entering the WNBA, Reese has been one of the best in the league in the paint for both offensive and defensive rebounds, earning All-Star honors in each of her three professional seasons. However, on Friday, Reese and Team USA faced off against China in their women's basketball World Cup opener, a matchup that pitted the Atlanta Dream star against 19-year-old Zhang.
While Team USA ran out 94-61 winners against China, a game in which Caitlin Clark registered a 14-point, 11-assist double-double, Reese and co. were forced to battle Zhang inside the paint, who towered over her opponents.
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The 19-year-old is 7-foot-4, with her dwarfing Reese, whose listed height is 6-foot-3.
One video on social media showed Reese trying to defend against Zhang, with her unable to do anything but give up a foul inside the paint, such was the size disparity.
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"Pls who’s this Ziyu Zhang from China. She’s freakishly tall abeg," wrote one fan on X. "Zhang Ziyu for China women's basketball team is tall af," wrote a second.
A third said, "china is just having zhang ziyu camped in the paint." A fourth commented, "Yes, she is tall, but the USA team still won, 94 to 61!"
And a fifth said, "China has all that money but can’t find a trainer for Ziyu Zhang. Send her to the USA for 5 years. We will get her right. Can’t teach height."
Another clip showed Zhang going head-to-head with Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever, who is listed at 6-foot-5. During that matchup in the second quarter, Boston could do nothing but watch Zhang score a basket over her head.
However, the following quarter saw Boston take on Zhang once again in the paint, with the former managing to wrestle the ball out of the Chinese teenager's hands to launch a fast break counter.
Zhang finished the contest with 13 points, tying for China's top scorer against Team USA with teammate Xinyu Luo.
Alongside Clark's 14 points, Team USA's top scorers were Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard, who both matched the Fever's guard's points total against China.
Following the win, Team USA is slated to face Italy on Sunday, Sept 6, while China will take on Czechia on the same day. Team USA will then take on Czechia the following day, Monday, Sept 7, while China will play Italy that day too.
Source: “AOL Sports”
