Chinese WNBA star out of World Cup after losing passport

WNBA player Li Yueru will not be participating in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin following the loss of her passport in the mail. The Chinese Basketball Association revealed that the document was misplaced during the mailing process in the United States. Unable to secure a replacement before the registration deadline, Li was unable to join her teammates in Germany for the tournament, which commences on Friday with China facing the United States in their opening match.

The 27-year-old, who currently plays for the Dallas Wings, expressed her disappointment in a statement on Chinese social media, saying it is unfortunate she cannot be with her fellow athletes during this time. Li thanked the association and embassies for their assistance in the search, acknowledging that despite their efforts, they may have been slightly unlucky in this instance.

The 6-foot-7 center, who began her WNBA career with the Dallas Wings in 2025, previously represented China at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was the team's leading scorer. Li boasts an extensive basketball resume, having played for the Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, as well as Chinese teams in Inner Mongolia and Guangdong.