WNBA Minnesota Lynx signs Chinese star Shao Ting of the WCBA Bejing Great Wall

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) — Chinese female basketballer Shao Ting was offered a trial to participate in WNBA side Minnesota Lynx’s training camp, which starts on April 23. In addition, the Chinese national team center could have chance to represent Lynx in two pre-season games.

The 28-year-old Shao has achieved great success in the Chinese basketball league, winning two WCBA titles with Beijing in the last two seasons, and being elected as the MVP of the final for the 2015-2016 season. She averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals in the 2016-2017 season.

The Lynx have won WNBA champions two times in 2011 and 2013, losing to the Sparks 2-3 in the final series last year. Their player Sylvia Fowles, the MVP of the WCBA final last season, was also Shao’s teammate in Beijing.

Shao Ting did not come within China’s State Sports Systems. She grew up as a normal student, but just loves playing basketball. She must be one of this VERY RARE CASE/SUCCESS STORY in Chinese basketball; she played basketball in primary school, secondary school, high school and in university. She led her Beijing Normal University to 5 CUBA and 3 CUBS championship, and had been 2 times CUBS MVP.

She became a professional basketball player in 2013 after graduating from Beijing Normal University when she joined Beijing Capital Steel Great Wall. She had a seemless transition from an amateur to a professional player and soon became a star player for the Beijing team, and was picked for the national team in 2014.

If she performs well, and successfully stays after the training camp and pre-season games, she will become the 5th Chinese woman player to land in WNBA (Her predecessors were: Zheng Haixia, Sui Feifei, Miao Lijie and Chen Nan).

Shao will leave for Minneapolis on Friday to join up with the team.

Source: China’s Shao Ting offered trial by WNBA side Lynx – Xinhua | English.news.cn