When people talk about Li Yueru, you’ll often hear two nicknames thrown around—“Xiaobao” and the “Female O’Neal.” One sounds like something you’d call your little sister. The other? A full-on badge of honor, comparing her to one of the most dominant players in basketball history. That right there says a lot about who she is: sweet off the court, unstoppable on it.

The 6-foot-7 center from China has quickly become a rising name in the WNBA, now on her way to make waves with Seattle. But her journey didn’t just start with the pros—it began years ago, fueled by a basketball movement back home that took off thanks to Yao Ming. When Yao joined the NBA in the early 2000s, he changed the game for China. The NBA exploded in popularity, and basketball soon became one of the country’s most beloved sports. More and more Chinese athletes began dreaming big. On the women’s side, it started quietly, with legends like Zheng Haixia, Sui Feifei, and Miao Lijie making their way to the WNBA. They helped open the doors that players like Li Yueru are now confidently walking through.

Li’s breakout moment came at just 16, when she dominated the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship with 22.1 points and 16.1 rebounds a game, leading China to gold. By 18, she was already suiting up for the senior national team and dropping double-doubles like a veteran.

She’s got the skills, the size, and the presence—but who is Li Yueru off the court? What’s her cultural background? Where does she come from, and what role have her family and roots played in shaping her journey? What’s her ethnicity, her religion, and how has her identity guided her as she’s grown into one of China’s brightest basketball stars?

Let’s dive into the story behind the star.

Where is Li Yueru from? What’s the Seattle Storm star’s nationality? 

 Born and raised in China, her professional journey kicked off with the Guangdong Dolphins in 2015. Just a teenager then, Li quickly proved she could hold her own against grown professionals. She played five solid seasons with the Dolphins before moving to Inner Mongolia in 2020, where she continued to make her mark as one of the WCBA’s most dominant bigs. Her size, skill, and soft touch around the rim didn’t just turn heads—they made her a household name in Chinese hoops.

In 2019, the Atlanta Dream took notice, selecting her with the 35th overall pick in the WNBA Draft. But Li wasn’t quite ready to make the leap just yet. She chose to stay in China, honing her craft and building her resume with the national team. She was then traded to the Chicago Sky in 2022, but she joined late and did not play much. 

Fast forward to February 1, 2025: The Seattle Storm made their move, acquiring her rights in a three-team trade and signing her soon after. Now, with a WNBA contract in hand, Li is stepping onto another American stage—but she hasn’t forgotten where she came from.

Even while chasing her dreams in the U.S., Li remains a key piece of China’s national team. She was recently named to China’s 28-player roster for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Shenzhen. It’s a big step. Not just for the tournament, but for the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Li isn’t slowing down. She’s been putting in work overseas, too. Playing in the Turkish league. Facing different styles. Bigger bodies. Faster guards. More pressure. It’s all part of her growth. Before she links up with the national squad, she’ll return to China for intense training camps. First in Yunnan. Then in Beijing. After that, it’s full steam ahead to Shenzhen. Wherever she is, one thing stays the same—Li Yueru keeps repping China. On every court. In every jersey.

Li Yueru represents her home country with pride. She’s not just a center on the court. She’s a symbol of how far Chinese basketball has come—and how much further it’s still going.

What is Li Yueru’s ethnicity and religion?

When it comes to Li Yueru’s ethnicity and religion, there’s no official record or public disclosure. She’s kept that part of her identity private, choosing to let her game and presence do the talking.

Has Li Yueru played for the Chinese National Team? 

Yes—Li Yueru has worn the red and gold of Team China. But her journey with the national team has been far more than just games and stats. It’s been about growth, nerves, heartbreak, and pride. It all started back in 2017 at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. That was her first call-up to the senior national team—and even if she didn’t show it on the outside, she was shaking on the inside.

“I felt very honored,” she later said, looking back at that moment. Coach Xu Limin had trusted her with a spot on the squad, and that belief stuck with her. She remembers the very first basket she scored. An inside shot. But everything around it? A blur. “I didn’t remember where I was or what I was doing… the only thing I knew was that I need to shot and then go back on defense.”

Her brain went blank. Her body was stiff. It was pure instinct, the kind that’s built from hours of training. That early nervousness didn’t last long, though. She quickly started climbing, appearing in the Women’s Basketball World Cup, Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, and eventually locking in a dream: the Olympics.

Fast forward to Paris 2024. At 25, standing tall at 6-foot-7, Li stepped onto the Olympic stage. She wasn’t just playing—she was leading. In China’s opening game against Spain, Li dropped 31 points on 9-of-16 shooting, grabbed 15 rebounds, and even knocked down a three. That 31-point performance? It was the highest by a Chinese women’s player in the Olympics since 1998. She averaged 17.7 points and 11 rebounds over three group-stage games. Her efficiency, her strength, her presence—it was all on full display. But it wasn’t enough. China fell short, just missing the quarterfinals, with that heartbreaking one-point loss to Spain hitting hardest.

Still, Li called that game “the most special.” It changed her mindset. “That game changed my mind,” she admitted. “Before that game, I think we have the best group in this Olympics and we have a lot of chances to be the first four teams or more, better scores. But the first time when we lose, I feel, ‘Oh my God, that’s the difference with my team.”

From there, she didn’t just reflect—she studied. She watched leaders from other teams, trying to shape her own style. One name stuck out to her: Belgium’s Emma Meesseman. That’s the kind of teammate, the kind of leader, she wanted to be. “

She’s a really good leader for Belgium,” the Chinese star continued. “And I try to learn how to play in her team and she plays in another country. So I try to learn more.“

Li also admits she still has a lot to learn. “

So we don’t have a really perfect game, perfect Olympic game this time. And we have some mistakes but I’m still proud of my team and I think we will play better in the future. I’m so proud that I can play here [in the WNBA]. I try to learn more things to help myself and to help my country,” she said.

So yes, Li Yueru has played for the Chinese National Team. And not just played—she’s left her mark.