Li Yueru Explained

Li Yueru (; born 28 March 1999) is a Chinese basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Galatasaray of the Women's Basketball Super League (WBSL) and the Chinese national team.^[1] Li was drafted in the third round of the 2019 WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream.^[2]

Professional career

China

Li started her professional career in China. She played for the Guangdong Dolphins (2015–2020) and Inner Mongolia (2020–2023) of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).

WNBA

Chicago Sky (2022)

Li was originally drafted with the 35th pick by the Atlanta Dream in the 2019 WNBA draft. However, she continued playing in China and never joined the Dream. On February 5, 2022, her rights were traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Chennedy Carter in exchange for Erica Wheeler, a 2023 WNBA draft first-round pick and a 2022 WNBA draft second-round pick.^[3] Li was subsequently traded on March 30, 2022, to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Lexie Brown.^[4] Li joined the team late, as she was waiting for permission from the Chinese Basketball Association,^[5] and did not see a lot of playing time during the season. She left the Sky at the end of July to join her national team in preparation for the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.^[6]

Li missed the 2023 WNBA season due to an injury suffered during overseas play.^[7]

Los Angeles Sparks (2024)

On February 21, 2024, Li was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Julie Allemand and a 2025 WNBA draft third-round pick in exchange for a 2024 WNBA draft first-round pick.^[8]

Turkey

Beşiktaş

Li played for Beşiktaş of the Women's Basketball Super League in the 2023–2024 season.^[9]

Bodrum Basketbol

Li signed with Bodrum Basketbol for the 2024–2025 season and played there since September.

Galatasaray

On November 21, 2024, she signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League (TKBL).^{[10] [11]}

National Team career

Li participated at the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup.^[12]

Career statistics

WCBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16| style="text-align:left;"| Guangdong Dolphins| 20 || 9 || 7.6 || .488 || .000 || .667 || 1.9 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 0.7 || 2.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| Guangdong Dolphins| 18 || 15 || 12.7 || .489 || 1.000 || .698 || 4.2 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 1.1 || 6.6|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Guangdong Dolphins| 25 || 25 || 29.0 || .534 || .250 || .732 || 10.5 || 1.5 || 0.4 || 1.2 || 3.5 || 18.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Guangdong Dolphins| 33 || 33 || 25.9 || .601 || .167 || .690 || 10.3 || 1.5 || 0.9 || 1.0 || 2.4 || 18.5|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 96 || 82 || 20.4 || .565 || .211 || .707 || 7.5 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 0.8 || 2.1 || 13.1Source: WCBA^[13]

WNBA

Regular season

|- class="sortbottom"| align="left" | 2019| rowspan=3 colspan=13 align="center" | Did not appear in WNBA|- class="sortbottom"| align="left" | 2020|- class="sortbottom"| align="left" | 2021|-| align="left" | 2022| align="left" | Chicago| 16 || 0 || 5.1 || .444 ||—|| 1.000 || 1.5 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 0.8 || 1.8|- class="sortbottom"| align="left" | 2023| colspan=13 align="center" | Did not appear in WNBA|-| align="left" | | align="left" | Los Angeles| 38 || 2 || 14.4 || .463 || .267 || .898 || 3.7 || 0.6 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 0.9 || 5.1|- class="sortbottom"| align="left" | Career| align="left" | 2 years, 2 teams| 54 || 2 || 11.6 || .461 || .267 || .915 || 3.0 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 0.9 || 4.1

Notes and References

1. https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/Yueru_Li/pid//_//players.html FIBA profile
2. Web site: 2019 WNBA Draft Analysis: Atlanta Dream leans on established experience heading into new season. Hopkins. Christine M.. 2019-04-19. Swish Appeal. en. 2020-04-24.
3. Web site: Dream Acquire Erica Wheeler, 2023 First Round Pick and 2022 Second Round Pick in Trade with Sparks . 2024-10-13 . dream.wnba.com . en.
4. Web site: 2022-03-30 . Sky acquire center Li Yueru in sign-and-trade sending Lexie Brown to Sparks . 2024-10-13 . Chicago Sun-Times . en.
5. Web site: Hruby . Emma . 2022-05-24 . Chicago Sky activate China’s Li Yueru, release Anneli Maley . 2024-10-13 . Just Women's Sports . en.
6. Web site: Kay . James . 2022-08-17 . Three things you need to know heading into Chicago Sky's first-round matchup against the New York Liberty . 2024-10-13 . The Next . en-US.
7. Web site: AAPI Heritage Month: Spotlighting Players in the Past and Present - WNBA . 2024-10-13 . www.wnba.com.
8. Web site: Sparks Acquire Julie Allemand and Li Yueru . 2024-10-13 . Los Angeles Sparks . en.
9. Web site: Li Yueru agreed terms with Besiktas . 2024-11-21 . www.asia-basket.com.
10. Web site: Li Yureu Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring'de!. Galatasaray S.K.. November 21, 2024. November 21, 2024.
11. Web site: Galatasaray to sign Li Yueru . 2024-11-21 . www.asia-basket.com.
12. https://www.fiba.basketball/womensasiacup/2017/Yueru-Li 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup profile
13. Web site: 中国女子篮球联赛. 3w.cba.net.cn. 2020-04-24.