2026 FIBA Women's World Cup: Chen Yujie, a campus-raised 00s player, is named captain of China's 12-player squad, defying traditional athlete paths.
China’s 12-Player Roster for the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup Officially Announced; Chen Yujie, a Post-2000s Player from the College Ranks, Is Named Team Captain
Most people did not expect this young player, who was first selected for the national team in 2025, to immediately take on the role of captain of the Chinese women’s national basketball team.
No one is born with the qualities of a team captain. Chen Yujie never attended a professional sports school to receive systematic training, yet she was already a core player on her school team during her early years at Changsha Yali High School. After entering Huazhong University of Science and Technology, she led the team as a starter to win the CUBAL national championship and was named the Finals MVP.Having risen through the ranks from college competition to the WCBA league, her career path stands in stark contrast to the traditional development model for professional athletes.
When she first began to make a name for herself on the professional circuit, Chen Yujie wasn’t widely expected to succeed; she had previously been forced to withdraw from a tournament due to a recurrence of an old injury.During that time, she was constantly surrounded by skepticism from the media and criticism from the public. She didn’t offer many explanations and never let any negative emotions show; instead, she spent day after day in the gym honing her skills, giving her all in every official match until the very last moment, and silencing all the doubters with her performance on the court.
In just one year, she went from being a rookie on the national team to becoming the captain of the Chinese women’s basketball team; in the subsequent World Cup qualifiers, she delivered a top-tier performance, silencing all previous doubts.
Throughout this World Cup cycle, the Chinese women’s basketball team has faced numerous objective challenges.
And everyone could clearly see the tenacity Chen Yujie displayed on the field with every dive for the ball and every fierce tackle.
There is no set formula for pursuing one’s dreams. As long as one is willing to work hard and take on responsibilities, one will naturally forge one’s own path. The younger generation has always been able to shoulder the responsibilities they are called upon to bear.
