China’s Yang Liwei (#7) and Li Yueru (#14) compete for a rebound with Ana Tadic and Alexia Chartereau of France during the quarterfinal match of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday. The team beat France 85-71. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/VCG

China’s power forward Huang Sijing shoots during the quarterfinal match. The win moved the team into the top four, the first time its been in that position at the tournament in 28 years. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/VCG

Li Yueru shoots during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Group A match between China and South Korea on Sept. 22. China thumped South Korea 107-44. Photo: Andy Cheung/VCG

China’s center Han Xu shoots under pressure from Puerto Rico's India Pagan (#33) during Women's Basketball World Cup Group A match in Sydney on Monday. China defeated Puerto Rico 95-60. Photo: VCG

China’s shooting guard Li Meng competes with Kahleah Copper of the U.S. (center) during the Women's Basketball World Cup Group A match between China and the U.S. Team China lost 63:77. Photo: Saeed Khan/VCG

China’s Chen Nan competes during the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament between China and Spain in Nantes, France, in June 2016. Chen entered the national team in 1999 and played center for the team for more than a decade. Photo: VCG

China’s forward Miao Lijie competes during the women’s basketball semifinal between China and Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The team won against Australia 76-74. Miao has since retired from basketball. Photo: VCG

Miao Lijie and Chen Nan celebreate with their teammates after winning gold at the FIBA Asia Championship for Women in Nagasaki, Japan, in August 2011. Photo: VCG

Magic Johnson speaks to China’s famed basketball center Zheng Haixia during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Zheng helped the team claim silver at the event. She entered the national team in 1983 and was the first Chinese player to play in the WNBA. Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/VCG