China Women’s Basketball Team Opens Asian Games Campaign With 111-46 Win

China’s women’s basketball team made a strong start to its Asian Games campaign on September 19, defeating Thailand 111-46 in the opening game of Group A at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The defending Asian Games champions quickly took control of the game at the Aichi International Arena. China built a double-digit advantage in the opening quarter and continued to extend its lead through aggressive defense, fast breaks and balanced scoring. The team led 57-28 at halftime before pulling further away in the second half.

China eventually won by 65 points, with six players scoring in double figures. Yang Shuyu led all scorers with 21 points, while also contributing seven rebounds and five assists. Chen Yujie and Luo Xinyi each added 16 points, Chen Mingling scored 15, and Liu Yutong and Sun Yu contributed 12 points apiece.

China’s defensive pressure was particularly effective after halftime. Thailand struggled to maintain possession and create consistent scoring opportunities as China repeatedly turned defensive plays into fast-break chances. A 22-2 run in the fourth quarter effectively ended any remaining suspense.

The Chinese roster for the Asian Games has undergone some changes following the recent FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Liu Yutong replaced Han Xu, who returned to the United States for her WNBA commitments, while Deng Yuting joined the squad in place of the injured Li Yuan.

Two notable players, Wang Siyu and Zhang Ziyu, did not play in the opening game. Their absence did not prevent China from producing a dominant team performance, with scoring distributed across the lineup.

China entered the Asian Games after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup, where it was the only Asian team to advance to the last eight. The team is also the reigning Asian Games champion, having won the women’s basketball gold medal at the previous two editions.

The 2026 Asian Games women’s basketball tournament features 11 teams divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-place teams, will advance to the knockout stage.

China will play its final Group A game against Indonesia on September 21. Indonesia also began its campaign with a victory, beating Thailand 61-52 in the tournament’s opening game.

China’s 111-46 victory provides a convincing start to its title defense, but the more demanding games are expected to come in the knockout stage, where teams such as Japan and South Korea could present tougher challenges.