Li Yueru (No. 28) of the Dallas Wings showcased her basketball savvy on Friday night against the Connecticut Sun. (Photo: Tammy McManaway Sports Photography)
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Less than a week after being traded from the Seattle Storm to the Dallas Wings, Li Yueru showed just how much of an impact she can have with her new team, notching an 11-point, nine rebound performance in the Wings’ 86-83 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night.
Yueru played limited minutes in the first half, but made the most of them, earning even more in the second half, and she did a little bit of everything, from hitting a critical 3-pointer in the third quarter to a nifty give and go with Paige Bueckers in the fourth frame for one of her three assists. Yueru even added a steal in a stat sheet filling night.
“It’s really fun to play with her,” Bueckers said of her newest teammate. “She’s super smart. She has a high IQ, and she understands the game.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Wings coach Chris Koclanes, who said he has been very impressed with Yueru in her short time in Dallas.
“For her to pick things up as quickly as she has and to have an impact like she’s been having is great,” Koclanes said. “Li was fantastic in the second half with her effort on the glass. We have so many different weapons, but it takes everybody doing what they’re really good at, and knowing their roles and excelling in their roles to be able to scratch and claw and pull out a couple games in a row.”
Yueru Brings Versatility at Both Ends of the Court
Koclanes said Yueru’s versatility makes her a great new weapon for the Wings. While there is no way to prove her addition to the team has given them a spark, the fact that the Wings have won two straight games since bringing her in from Seattle in a trade for a 2026 second round draft pick and a 2027 third round draft pick is undeniable.
Notably, Koclanes lauded her ability to hedge screens at the perimeter while also banging bodies with Connecticut standout Tina Charles under the net. And that defensive versatility is mirrored on the offensive end of the court.
“I’m super impressed with her ability to get up and down (the court), and to play through mistakes when its not perfect,” Koclanes said. “Offensively she’s a connector, a fantastic screener. The bonus is she throws in a 3. She’s a fantastic shooter. I’m just proud of her, her effort and her attitude.”
Li Yueru pulls down a rebound amid a trio of Connecticut Sun defenders during the Dallas Wings 86-83 win over Connecticut on Friday night. (Photo: Tammy McManaway Sports Photography.)
Yueru is Quickly Building Chemistry With Teammates
Any time a new member joins a team, there can be chemistry concerns, but that hasn’t been the case so far, as both Bueckers and Koclanes praised Yueru’s attitude and approach to the game.
“It’s got to be tough coming to a team almost halfway through the season and still having a great understanding of how to play with us,” Bueckers said. “The chemistry will continue to keep building. She’s just a lot of fun to be around on and off the court.”
At just 26 years old, Yueru is already a seasoned veteran of professional basketball. According to the Dallas Wings website, she joined the Guangdong Dolphins of the Women’s Chinese Basketball league at just 16 year old, and found success there before being drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2019. She didn’t play in the WNBA until 2022 with the Chicago Sky, where her minutes and impact were limited.
After an injury cost her the 2023 season, she joined the Sparks in 2024, where she played her first full season, averaging 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in about 14 minutes a game.
She has also been a standout for the Chinese Women’s National team, particularly in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she averaged 17.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
If she can continue to build chemistry and confidence in Dallas, she could be a dynamic changer for the guard oriented Wings.
