Star duo's Sichuan switch spices up WCBA title race

The additions of Chinese national team players Li Meng and Sun Mengran have transformed Team Sichuan into red-hot title favorites for the forthcoming Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) season.

"Following positive negotiations, national team players Li Meng and Sun Mengran have joined Sichuan," read a statement from the club, which also acknowledged the role the stars' former team had played in their development.

Having acquired core Team China player Shao Ting in 2020, Sichuan reached the WCBA semifinals last season－its best ever performance in the competition.

Now, with Li and Sun also on board, Sichuan hopes to break the title stranglehold enjoyed by Beijing and Shanxi over the last decade.

Li averaged 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and four assists at the FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women in 2010 to become the first Chinese player to win an MVP award at a major international tournament.

After joining the national senior team in 2013, Li won Asian Games gold in 2018 and helped China reach the last eight at this summer's Tokyo Olympics, averaging 10.8 points per game.

"I'm so glad to join a team with such great unity and good prospects," said the 26-year-old. "I will bring my never-say-die spirit to the team and help it to achieve good results."

The small forward, nicknamed LeBron Meng by fans in reference to her idol LeBron James, was named WCBA Rookie of the Year in 2013, averaging 14.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

She improved her points average to 23.8, finished as the leading scorer among domestic players and claimed the regular-season MVP award in 2017-18, before retaining the honor the following year.

Li averaged 18.8 points and 5 rebounds in 183 appearances for Shenyang Army and Bayi Army between 2013 and 2020.

She led Liaoning to five straight wins in the preliminary games at the 14th Chinese National Games in March, including her jaw-dropping 62-point performance against Shanghai.

"Li is never defeated by injuries and has grown stronger as her career has progressed," read the Team Sichuan statement.

Sun also joined the national squad in 2013, and was part of the team that finished sixth at the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

She averaged 20.8 points and 5.2 boards to help steer Shandong to the National Games finals. She was also part of the team that reached the quarterfinals at Tokyo 2020.

Sun made her WCBA debut in 2011 and was awarded the MVP in the league's 2016 All-Star Game. She averaged 15.7 points and 6.7 boards when representing Bayi in 225 matches.

"We hope Li and Sun fit into this team quickly on their way to new achievements," added the Team Sichuan statement.

It is hoped the trades of star players will help lift the competitiveness of the WCBA league and also boost its professional development and popularity.

Xinhua / China Daily