Li Yueru

Li Yueru's Biography

Li Yueru was born on March 28, 1999, and is a renowned professional basketball player from China. Currently, she plays professional basketball for the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) while also representing the Bodrum Basketbol of the Women’s Basketball Super League (WBSL) and the Chinese national team. Her basketball career is filled with remarkable accomplishments recorded both locally and internationally.

Li’s journey to professional basketball began in 2019 when she was enlisted in the third round of the WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream. Despite this career-altering opportunity, Li maintained her loyalty to the Chinese basketball scene, continuing to play in her home country rather than joining Atlanta Dream. As fate would have it, her career took a different path on February 5, 2022, when her rights were traded from Atlanta Dream to the Los Angeles Sparks. This trade was part of an agreement that also involved Chennedy Carter and was in exchange for Erica Wheeler, a first-round pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, and a second-round pick in the 2022 WNBA draft.

However, her journey with the Los Angeles Sparks was not a long one, as, on March 30, 2022, she was traded to the Chicago Sky for Lexie Brown. This change was riddled with complications; Li joined the Chicago Sky late, given that she was awaiting clearance from the Chinese Basketball Association. This delay affected her performance as she saw limited playtime during the season.

In July, she left the Chicago Sky to join her national team in preparation for the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. However, her career faced a setback as she suffered an injury during overseas play, causing her to miss the 2023 WNBA season.

In another significant career move, on February 21, 2024, Li found herself back with the Los Angeles Sparks. She was traded along with Julie Allemand and a third-round pick in the 2025 WNBA draft in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.

Apart from her impressive professional career, Li has also made significant impacts in international competitions. She participated in the 2017 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup and represented her country in the esteemed tournament.

Despite her ups and downs, Li Yueru has shown resilience and determination on her path as a professional athlete. Being a player for the WNBA, WBSL, and the Chinese national team, she is undoubtedly a powerhouse in the basketball scene. As she continues on her journey, it will be interesting to see what other accomplishments the future holds for this promising Chinese basketball player.