For months, TikTok and Instagram timelines had been flooded with clips of a towering seven-foot Chinese teenager dropping the ball into the basket as if she were playing against middle schoolers.
During Team USA’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup opener, Angel Reese found herself face-to-face with the player behind those viral clips.
Angel Reese Struggled To Guard a Seven-Footer Chinese Player
Team USA opened its 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign with a 94-61 victory over China. Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard, and Paige Bueckers led the way for the Americans with 14 points each, but another moment from the game quickly stole attention online.
In the fourth quarter, Reese was seen battling China’s Zhang Ziyu near the basket. At 7’4″, Ziyu presented an extraordinary physical challenge.
Angel Reese (6’3″) BATTLING China’s Zhang Ziyu (7’3″) 🔥🤯
Live Games on TNT/TruTV/MAX 📺 #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/E9HAWu6tLF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 4, 2026
Footage of Reese attempting to get the ball away from the towering Chinese center quickly began circulating across social media.
Reese stands at 6’4″, and Aliyah Boston, who was also battling Ziyu near the rim, checks in at 6’5″. By any normal basketball standard, neither player is small. But next to Zhang’s 7’4″ frame, both looked noticeably undersized. Influencers were quick to point out the visual differences in the players’ heights.
“Her and AB look like babies out there hahaha,” said one user, whereas another one wrote, “Yoooo she got my girls looking like kids.”
Her and AB look like babies out there hahaha https://t.co/KLI6FyhC10
— It’s Jodi Newsome (@ItsJodiNewsome) September 4, 2026
Boston and Reese were the only two Team USA players consistently tasked with defending Zhang near the paint. Boston finished with seven points while Reese scored five points.
It can be said that they had a somewhat moderate night on offense. But their real physical battle under the basket clearly caught everyone’s eye.
“Everyone fighting for their lives in the post today,” one account commented.
Everyone fighting for their lives in the post today. https://t.co/F5cGkTZBUU
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) September 4, 2026
While the moment initially appeared to show Reese struggling to reach the ball against Ziyu, she eventually managed to slap the ball out of the Chinese center’s hands and prevent her from scoring. One user was quick to point out that defensive effort.
“Light work for Reese,” the user wrote.
Light work for Reese https://t.co/WcyfU60uey
— That boy DJack (@DJack2009) September 4, 2026
For Team USA, the moment was only a small part of a comfortable opening victory. But for the WNBA world and basketball fans online, Reese’s encounter with Ziyu quickly became one of the most memorable visuals from the game.
