Li Yueru

In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.
Li Yueru
No. 28 – Galatasaray
PositionCenter
LeagueWomen's Basketball Super League
Personal information
Born (1999-03-28) 28 March 1999 (age 25)
Changzhi, Shanxi, China
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Career information
WNBA draft2019: 3rd round, 35th overall pick
Selected by the Atlanta Dream
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2020Guangdong Dolphins
2020–2023Inner Mongolia
2022Chicago Sky
2023–2024Beşiktaş
2024–presentLos Angeles Sparks
2024Bodrum Basketbol
2024–presentGalatasaray
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  China
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2022 Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
Silver medal – second place 2021 Jordan
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Bangalore
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Team
Gold medal – first place 2018 Jakarta Team
Li Yueru
Simplified Chinese李月汝
Transcriptions

Li Yueru (Chinese: 李月汝; 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

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

WCBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2015–16 Guangdong Dolphins 20 9 7.6 .488 .000 .667 1.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.7
2016–17 Guangdong Dolphins 18 15 12.7 .489 1.000 .698 4.2 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.1 6.6
2017–18 Guangdong Dolphins 25 25 29.0 .534 .250 .732 10.5 1.5 0.4 1.2 3.5 18.2
2018–19 Guangdong Dolphins 33 33 25.9 .601 .167 .690 10.3 1.5 0.9 1.0 2.4 18.5
Career 96 82 20.4 .565 .211 .707 7.5 1.0 0.5 0.8 2.1 13.1

Source: WCBA[13]

WNBA

Regular season

WNBA regular season statistics[14]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2019 Did not appear in WNBA
2020
2021
2022 Chicago 16 0 5.1 .444 — 1.000 1.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.8 1.8
2023 Did not appear in WNBA
2024 Los Angeles 38 2 14.4 .463 .267 .898 3.7 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.9 5.1
Career 2 years, 2 teams 54 2 11.6 .461 .267 .915 3.0 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.9 4.1

References

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