Chinese hoops star Li Meng capped a sparkling season for club and country by playing a key role in Team China's gold medal-winning campaign at the Hangzhou Asian Games last week.

Li was also instrumental as Team China lifted the Asia Cup in July, and the 28-year-old reckons her impressive form this year on the international stage is due in large part to the steep learning curve that playing in the WNBA provides.

Li Meng (L) of China competes during the women's basketball quarterfinal against Chinese Taipei at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Oct. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

"A good result is important, but it's just one tournament. All these gold medals and titles won't be here forever. What's more important is always fighting for the next goal, the next event. We need to keep growing and making progress," said the Washington Mystics guard, who was named on the 2023 WNBA All-Rookie team.

"The WNBA is a platform that many players aspire to reach. This is a different test than the domestic league, and you face different opponents," she added.

"I just hope more Chinese players can make it here and develop here. They have different training methods, and they tailor training according to each player's needs."

Dubbed "Li-Bron" by fans, in a nod to her idol LeBron James, she averaged 5.6 points per game for the Mystics in 34 appearances, including one start, last season.

Despite scooping the rookie award, the ever-humble Li feels she still has a lot to prove in the elite league.

"This is my first year in the WNBA, so I did not come just to generate impressive personal stats. I value the process more than the numbers. The main goal for me is always to level up my ability, so that when called upon I can help my national team," she said.

"I just want to follow my heart, and keep doing what I love, which is basketball. Through this experience, I want to share what I have learned with my teammates and friends back home as much as possible. My experience here can be an example to them, and one day some of them might come here too. So we can grow together.

"However, I think it's also important to understand that no one can 100 percent copy another's path to success. Everyone's dream is also different. So, we must all stick to our dreams."

Aside from the encouraging start to her WNBA career, Li has been a rock in the red of the national team, playing a starring role in July as the squad edged defending champion Japan, 73-71, to end a 12-year wait for Asia Cup glory.

Japan was again on the receiving end of Li's brilliance in a thrilling 74-72 win for the host in last week's Asian Games final.

"The biggest challenge for me was that I only joined up with the national team less than a week before the start of the Asian Games. And the priority for me was to adapt myself to the team's overall tactics. During the first few training sessions, the coach helped me go through all the details, so I could remember and execute the game plan," said Li.

"So I really want to thank the Chinese Basketball Association for giving me the opportunity to play and develop outside the domestic league. The tougher environment is helping me to grow faster.

"The Asia Cup victory for Team China was a huge boost of confidence, and we carried that momentum into the Asian Games in Hangzhou. We were confident and well-prepared."

Li also heaped praise on her national teammates, including Wang Siyu who made the final shot to secure the Asian Games triumph.

"Many of our players are improving fast. Han Xu and I played in the WNBA last season, and I think Team China is benefiting from this. We are helping each other to grow, and we are trying to bring new energy to the squad," Li added.

After her busy season, Li said she would take a break after the Asian Games, and she is well aware of the bigger challenge that awaits — next summer's Paris Olympics.

"Fans now have high expectations of the Chinese women's team for the Paris Games. We are under pressure, of course, but we have to channel this pressure into motivation," she said.

"As for next season, I hope we'll see more Chinese women playing and developing their games in more competitive foreign leagues. The goal in Paris is a medal. And to achieve that we need to be focused, and we have to work on our weaknesses, so that we can gain some advantages ahead of the Games."

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)