SHENZHEN (China) - The FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2024 Group Phase game between two Asian powerhouses China and Japan lived up to the hype of being a clash between two contending rivals, featuring one of the most intriguing prospects in women’s basketball.
The widespread interest in the game was confirmed by the 3.6 million views collated from FIBA's Youtube and Chinese Social Media platforms.
This landmark achievement not only signifies a growing global interest in women's basketball but also complements one of FIBA's strategic priorities for 2023-2027, Women in Basketball, highlighting the dedication to advancing the sport for women worldwide and increasing the fan base.
The rivalry between China and Japan has always been a major draw in women's basketball as both are championship contenders at all levels. In the FIBA World Ranking Girls, Presented by Nike, Japan are ranked 9 and China are ranked 19. In the FIBA World Ranking Women, Presented by Nike, China are ranked 2 and Japan are ranked 9.
Much attention in this game was focused on China's Zhang Ziyu, whose towering presence and exceptional skills have captured the attention of major media outlets globally. Standing at 2.20M (7'3"), Zhang has become a sensation, contributing significantly to the surge in viewership.
The 3.6 million viewers witnessed a significant moment in history as Zhang Ziyu broke the U18 Women's Asia Cup record for most points scored in a single game with 44 points while China won 97-81.