Wow factor in Yao factor

Spanish Basketball Federation president Jorge Garbajosa reckons the influence of Yao Ming will help China's national women's team take its game to the next level.

China tips off its Women's Basketball World Cup campaign against Latvia on the Spanish island of Tenerife on Saturday, and Garbajosa - an ex-Toronto Raptors forward - believes his former NBA rival Yao can help his country become a superpower of the female game in his role as CBA chairman.

"China has a physically strong side, with a style of play that will make their rivals uncomfortable, but they still lack that extra something they need in order to take a step forward and reach a higher level," Garbajosa told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Monday.