WBB.global

Spanish National Team Narrowly Beats China 72-71 in World Cup Exhibition Game

By Kate Northington

August 31, 2026

ZARAGOZA—Awa Fam (SEA), Maria Conde (TOR), and Iyana Martín, who will join the Portland Fire next year as a 2026 draft pick, faced off against 7’3” 19 year-old Zhang Ziyu and a strong young China team that will soon be joined by the Han Xu (NYL) and Li Yueru (DAL). Spain and China’s women’s national teams played an exhibition game at 9:00 PM local time last night as a pre-World Cup warm-up game at Pabellón Principe Felipe, an impressive showing by two formidable teams. 

Spain kept a modest lead for most of the game thanks to double-digit performances from Iyana Martín (G), Mariona Ortiz (PG), and Maria Conde (SF), but a layup from Zhang Ziyu with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave China their first lead since the first quarter. Paula Ginzo had a clutch catch-and-release midrange shot from near the baseline, releasing the ball with 1.5 seconds left on the clock to win the game for Spain 72-71.

7’3″ Chinese center Zhang Ziyu scores a basket against 6’4″ Spanish center Awa Fam.

Team China was much more effective from the field, shooting 28/58 FG (48%) compared to Spain’s 24/84 FG (28%). Spain had 8 triples, though, shooting at 26% from the three-point line. China struggled behind the line with 5%, or 1 of 17 shots at the three. Zhang Ziyu made 22 points, shooting 71% from the field. The 19 year-old continues to move with more fluidity down the court, and is projected to be a first-round WNBA draft pick should she declare in 2027. 

The Spanish National Team huddles with coach Miguel Méndez.

Spain will have more players joining the team in Berlin as the World Cup starts this week in Megan DiLeo (POR), Raquel Carrera (NYL), and Alicia Flórez (WAS). Spain was the silver medalist in last year’s Eurobasket and will face off against Japan, Germany, and Mali in the first-round Group Phase this week. Spain also faced Mali on August 28th in Torneo Zaragoza, and won 97-58. China will also have Han Xu (NYL) and Li Yueru (DAL) joining the team as they prepare for face-offs with the United States, Czechia, and Italy in the Group Phase.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know on all things women’s basketball.

Leave a comment