China's Sui Feifei and Miao Lijie are the players among the 13
roster spots on the Sacramento
Monarchs, attending the club's season opener at Phoenix.
Following in the footsteps of center Yao Ming's success with the
Houston Rockets, China's next major export to the American sports stage
could be in the Women's National Basketball Association.
China's Sui Feifei and Miao Lijie are the players among the 13 roster
spots on the Sacramento Monarchs, with both making the final roster for
the club's season opener at Phoenix on Saturday.
Small forward Sui Feifei became only the second Chinese player to sign
with the US women's league and guard Miao Lijie followed in March.
China's first WNBA player was Zheng Haixia, who played for the Los
Angeles Sparks in 1997 and 1998, the league's first two seasons.
Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant said in terms of
fame, Feifei is the Yao Ming of Chinese women's basketball.
Whisenant added that Miao Lijie appears to offer what the team need for
the upcoming season.
The 26-year-old Feifei is a three-time Most Valuable Player of the
Women's Chinese Basketball Association, having helped Baiyi win the past
four Chinese crowns.
And 24-year-old Miao has led the Chinese league in scoring in each of
her four WCBA seasons, all with Heilongjiang, and has spent eight years on
the national team.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-20 09:29
