After the disappointing exit from the Olympics, the women's basketball team is gearing up for their next major event, the Asian Cup next year. The main lineup is expected to undergo significant changes. It remains to be seen whether Zhang Ziyu will be selected by Zheng Wei, despite her abilities far surpassing her peers, she has yet to play in a professional league. There are no particularly outstanding young players on the national team. The new generation's talent is mostly concentrated in Zhang Ziyu, with Ran Kejia also showing promise but having suffered injuries, which could be seen as a form of balance.
Yang Hengyu and Cao Junwei from Shandong are likely to receive training opportunities. Yang Hengyu possesses technical skills, experience, three-point shooting, mid-range shots, and good post moves; however, her age is slightly higher, and her lateral movement and defense are somewhat slower. Cao Junwei is also technically comprehensive, with strong attacking capabilities, rich experience, and good chemistry with Yang Hengyu, both of whom are at the peak of their careers. In the absence of young players stepping up, it seems that the team will still rely on these veterans.
The main reason for the Olympic failure was the subpar performance of Li Meng, Han Xu, and Wang Suyu. Especially Li Meng, whose competitive state has significantly deteriorated due to injuries compared to the Women's Basketball World Cup. This season, after the start of the women's basketball league, Li Meng's statistics have also shown a noticeable decline. However, due to the abundance of national team players within Sichuan, Sichuan Women's Basketball has still achieved an undefeated record of 11 consecutive victories, ranking first in the league. Li Meng's poor form is also related to her emotional life.
Previously, Li Meng wrote on social media: "Some discard me like weeds, others cherish me like a treasure." According to insiders close to Li Meng, she has amicably broken up with the faithless man, Zhang Long. National teammates, including Wang Suyu, have offered comfort. The two were once involved in a high-profile scandal, which was even exposed online by Zhang Long's ex-wife. However, due to Li Meng's absolute strength, the matter eventually fizzled out. The breakup is beneficial for Li Meng as it allows her to fully focus on basketball.
Although her performance has dipped, Li Meng is still under 30 years old. She is not as sharp as her peak period, with less stable three-point shooting and slightly slower speed due to weight gain. However, her defensive attitude has improved, and she has gained more experience. When her shooting touch is off, she knows there are other ways to contribute, such as using her presence to create opportunities and assists for her team to win games. She does not chase after statistics or score points deliberately, as many things come naturally to her. This season, Li Meng ranks only third in scoring among the team but is the assist leader for Sichuan Women's Basketball.
More surprisingly, Li Meng has not missed a single free throw this season, maintaining a perfect 100% average with 2.3 free throws per game, and has successfully made 23 consecutive free throws without a miss. We look forward to Li Meng making a triumphant return to her former glory.