Walking tall once again

"I've made peace with the injuries," she said.

"If you keep dwelling on the past, you're wasting the present version of yourself."

The injuries have also reshaped how she sees her role. Once focused mainly on her own performance, she now sees herself as a connector and mentor.

On the sidelines, she often breaks down tactical details for younger teammates and emphasizes injury prevention, urging them to value their bodies.

As Chinese women's basketball continues to evolve, and younger players rise through the system, Wu acknowledges that her national team role may be changing. Instead, she is focused on something simpler and harder to lose — her love of the game.

"Anyone who truly loves something should have something to pursue," she said. "If someone has gone through similar difficulties as me, I hope they can stand back up, too."