STWF Sports| ARLINGTON, Texas| September 3, 2026 — Dallas Wings center Li Yueru will miss the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup after an unexpected passport issue prevented her from joining the Chinese national team in Berlin, Germany.
Yueru announced the development in a statement posted to her Instagram account, explaining that her passport was lost in the mail and had not been recovered in time for her to travel with China.
The timing is particularly difficult for both Yueru and the Chinese national team, which is scheduled to open World Cup competition against Team USA on Friday, Sept. 4.
For China, the absence removes one of the program’s most experienced international players from a major tournament. Yueru has previously represented her country at both the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games and was part of the Chinese team that earned the silver medal at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Li Yueru’s Impact on the Team
In her statement, Yueru expressed disappointment while emphasizing how much representing China continues to mean to her.
“The national team have always made me feel valued and wanted, and it has always been a tremendous honor to represent China,” Yueru said. She added that she had been looking forward to rejoining the team before the passport problem ultimately prevented the trip.
Yueru said multiple efforts were made to resolve the situation, but no workable solution was found before the tournament.
The setback comes during an important stretch for the Dallas Wings as well. The WNBA entered its FIBA World Cup break following Dallas’ 97-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Aug. 30.
Several Wings players were scheduled to participate internationally during the break, giving Dallas one of the more visible representations at the tournament. Yueru had been expected to join China, while teammates from other countries were preparing to compete for their respective national teams.
Instead, Yueru will remain away from international competition while China moves forward without one of its most recognizable interior players.
Her absence could significantly alter China’s frontcourt rotation. At 6-foot-7, Yueru brings size, rebounding and an established low-post presence that has translated across multiple international competitions. Her experience in high-pressure games also gives China a veteran option against physical teams such as the United States.
The World Cup opener against Team USA now becomes an even greater challenge for China, which must adjust its rotation and interior responsibilities without Yueru available.
For the Wings, the situation means one of their players will not carry the additional workload of international competition during the league’s two-and-a-half-week break.
Dallas is scheduled to return to WNBA action on Sept. 17 against the Los Angeles Sparks at College Park Center. The Wings entered the break at 24-16, riding a four-game winning streak and continuing to battle for postseason positioning.
Yueru’s immediate focus now shifts away from the World Cup and toward resolving the travel-document issue before Dallas resumes its season.
The circumstances surrounding her absence are unusual and unfortunate, particularly given her long history with the Chinese national team. Still, her statement made clear that her desire to represent China remains unchanged.
For now, China will begin its World Cup campaign without one of its most experienced players, while Yueru watches from afar after an administrative issue derailed what was expected to be another major international appearance.
