Li Yueru

In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.

Li Yueru
Li with the Seattle Storm in 2025
Dallas Wings
PositionCenter
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-03-28) 28 March 1999
Changzhi, Shanxi, China
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Career information
WNBA draft2019: 3rd round, 35th overall pick
Drafted byAtlanta Dream
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2020Guangdong Dolphins
2020–2023Inner Mongolia
2022Chicago Sky
2023–2024Beşiktaş
2024Los Angeles Sparks
2024Bodrum Basketbol
2024–2025Galatasaray
2025Seattle Storm
2025–presentDallas Wings
2026–presentMist BC
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference 
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  China
World Cup
2022 Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
2021 Jordan
2017 Bangalore
Asian Games
2022 Hangzhou Team
2018 Jakarta Team
Li Yueru
Simplified Chinese李月汝
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Yuèrǔ

Li Yueru (Chinese: 李月汝; born 28 March 1999) is a Chinese basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Mist of Unrivaled. She also plays for the Chinese national team.[1] Li was drafted in the third round of the 2019 WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream.[2]

Professional career

China

Li started her professional career in China. She played for the Guangdong Dolphins (2015–2020) and Inner Mongolia (2020–2023) of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).

WNBA

Chicago Sky (2022)

Li was originally drafted with the 35th pick by the Atlanta Dream in the 2019 WNBA draft. However, she continued playing in China and never joined the Dream. On 5 February 2022, her rights were traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Chennedy Carter in exchange for Erica Wheeler, a 2023 WNBA draft first-round pick and a 2022 WNBA draft second-round pick.[3] Li was subsequently traded on 30 March 2022, to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Lexie Brown.[4] Li joined the team late, as she was waiting for permission from the Chinese Basketball Association,[5] and did not see a lot of playing time during the season. She left the Sky at the end of July to join her national team in preparation for the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.[6]

Li missed the 2023 WNBA season due to an injury suffered during overseas play.[7]

Los Angeles Sparks (2024)

On 21 February 2024, Li was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Julie Allemand and a 2025 WNBA draft third-round pick in exchange for a 2024 WNBA draft first-round pick.[8]

Seattle Storm (2025)

On 1 February 2025, the Seattle Storm acquired the reserve rights to Li in a three-team trade and subsequently signed her to a contract.[9]

Dallas Wings (2025–present)

On 14 June 2025, Li was traded to the Dallas Wings in exchange for a 2026 WNBA draft second-round pick and a 2027 WNBA draft third-round pick.[10]

Li made significant impact after joining the Wings roster, immediately reshaping the team's interior presence on both offense and defense.[11] In her first four games, she averaged 7.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, highlighted by a standout performance on June 24, when she recorded 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a 68–55 win over the Atlanta Dream.[12] Li played an instrumental role for the Wings during a period when Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder were absent due to national team commitments.[13][14] However, on August 19, the team announced that Li would miss the remainder of the season following an ACL sprain in her left knee, sustained during a 97–96 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on August 15. She is expected to make a full recovery.[15] Li concluded her third WNBA season with averages of 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Unrivaled

On 5 November 2025, it was announced that Li had been drafted by Mist BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season.[16]

Turkey

Beşiktaş

Li played for Beşiktaş of the Women's Basketball Super League in the 2023–2024 season.[17]

Bodrum Basketbol

Li signed with Bodrum Basketbol for the 2024–2025 season and played there from September to November.

Galatasaray

On 21 November 2024, Li signed with Galatasaray.[18][19]

National Team career

Li participated at the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup.[20] She competed for the Chinese national team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she led the team in points, rebounds, efficiency and field goal percentage.[9][21][22]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

WCBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2015–16 Guangdong Dolphins 20 9 7.6 .488 .000 .667 1.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.7
2016–17 Guangdong Dolphins 18 15 12.7 .489 1.000 .698 4.2 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.1 6.6
2017–18 Guangdong Dolphins 25 25 29.0 .534 .250 .732 10.5 1.5 0.4 1.2 3.5 18.2
2018–19 Guangdong Dolphins 33 33 25.9 .601 .167 .690 10.3 1.5 0.9 1.0 2.4 18.5
Career 96 82 20.4 .565 .211 .707 7.5 1.0 0.5 0.8 2.1 13.1

Source: WCBA[23]

WNBA

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2025 season

WNBA regular season statistics[24]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2019 Did not appear in WNBA
2020
2021
2022 Chicago 16 0 5.1 .444 .000 1.000 1.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.8 1.8
2023 Did not appear in WNBA
2024 Los Angeles 38 2 14.4 .463 .267 .898 3.7 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.9 5.1
2025 Seattle 9 0 8.7 .300 .500 .917 1.6 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.8 2.8
Dallas 22 12 20.0 .421 .353 .842 5.8 1.0 0.4 0.4 1.0 7.4
Career 3 years, 4 teams 85 14 13.5 .434 .343 .893 3.6 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.9 4.8

References

  1. ^ FIBA profile
  2. ^ Hopkins, Christine M. (19 April 2019). "2019 WNBA Draft Analysis: Atlanta Dream leans on established experience heading into new season". Swish Appeal. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Dream Acquire Erica Wheeler, 2023 First Round Pick and 2022 Second Round Pick in Trade with Sparks". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Sky acquire center Li Yueru in sign-and-trade sending Lexie Brown to Sparks". Chicago Sun-Times. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  5. ^ Hruby, Emma (24 May 2022). "Chicago Sky activate China's Li Yueru, release Anneli Maley". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  6. ^ Kay, James (17 August 2022). "Three things you need to know heading into Chicago Sky's first-round matchup against the New York Liberty". The Next. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  7. ^ "AAPI Heritage Month: Spotlighting Players in the Past and Present - WNBA". www.wnba.com. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Sparks Acquire Julie Allemand and Li Yueru". Los Angeles Sparks. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Seattle Storm Signs Li Yueru". storm.wnba.com. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Dallas Wings Trade For Li Yueru". wings.wnba.com. 14 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  11. ^ Afseth, Grant (27 June 2025). "Wings ride defensive identity, Li Yueru's arrival to best stretch". The IX Basketball. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Wings 68-55 Dream (Jun 24, 2025) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  13. ^ Afseth, Grant (17 June 2025). "Li Yueru will bring size and shooting to a depleted Dallas frontcourt". The IX Basketball. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  14. ^ 董欣怡. "Li helps Wings take flight". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Li Yueru To Miss Remainder of Season". wings.wnba.com. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  16. ^ Andrews, Kendra (5 November 2025). "Rosters set for Unrivaled second season after internal draft". ESPN. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Li Yueru agreed terms with Besiktas". www.asia-basket.com. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Li Yureu Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring'de!". Galatasaray S.K. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Galatasaray to sign Li Yueru". www.asia-basket.com. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  20. ^ 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup profile
  21. ^ "China announces basketball rosters for Paris Olympics". english.news.cn. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  22. ^ Hirro, John Ezekiel (24 July 2024). "China Women's Basketball 2024 Paris Olympics: Full roster, schedule and more". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  23. ^ "中国女子篮球联赛". 3w.cba.net.cn. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Li Yueru WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
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