USC's JuJu Watkins is one of the most talented players in collegiate basketball right now and largely expected to be drafted as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2027, assuming she opts to enter that year (Watkins suffered an ACL tear during March Madness this year and could opt to stay in college for another year and be drafted in 2028). At least... she's one of the most talented players in the United States, but Chinese National Team member Zhang Ziyu might pose a serious threat to Watkins' crown.
Zhang is getting a lot of attention for a major reason: she's 7'5", which makes her virtually impossible to guard. The team refers to Zhang as its "moving Great Wall" and has put her size to good use so far in her Women's Asia Cup debut.
Zhang Ziyu is now 18 and just made her senior national team debut for China
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 16, 2025
She’s up to 7’5”pic.twitter.com/4MiGADUkml
Zhang scored 18 points and 7 rebounds in 12 minutes of play during her Asia Cup debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina, 16 points and 7 rebounds in 15 minutes of play during her second, and racked up another 18 points during China's 101-92 win over Japan Wednesday, her third game for the national team. And while some have questioned her agility, it's clear Zhang is a dominant force on the court, and a compelling draft pick for WNBA teams who need size.
Basketball is part of her family
Both of Zhang's parents were professional basketball players. Her father played for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jinan Military Region and her mother was a center for Shandong, the same province Zhang also played for.
Zhang began to attract attention at age 14, but her big moment came in 2024 when she averaged 35 points and 12.8 rebounds per game at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup, where she was also named MVP.
Zhang has so far received high praise from the coaches of the teams China has faced. Bosnia and Herzegovina head coach Emir Halimic celebrated her as the "best player I've ever seen," and Japan's head coach Corey Gaines admitted the team needs to do more to figure out how to stop her.
The 2027 WNBA Draft is already intense
While it's entirely too early to predict the draft order in 2027 (there will be two more teams entering the league in 2026, and their performances will dictate a lot), the class itself can only be described as stacked. In addition to Watkins and Zhang, the draft class includes Vanderbilt's Khamil Pierre, TCU's MiLaysia Fulwiley, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, and Texas' Madison Booker — among many others.