Wings' head coach praises Li Yueru: very intelligent + excellent positioning awareness, with untapped potential in the paint.

On June 25, Beijing time, the Dallas Wings defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-55 at home. Chinese player Li Yueru made her first start of the season, showcasing an impressive performance with 10 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, including 6 offensive rebounds. Li set career records for both playing time and rebounds, with a personal plus-minus of +18, the highest in the game. After the match, the Wings' head coach mentioned Li Yueru several times, praising the Chinese player.

When discussing limiting the Dream to 55 points, the Wings' head coach talked about the defensive intensity established from the start. She highlighted Li Yueru's contributions on defensive rebounds and her presence in the paint, commending her for elevating the team's defensive level.

In this game, Li Yueru faced off against WNBA's top interior player, Griner, grabbing 15 rebounds while Griner only managed 6. Regarding this matchup, the Wings' head coach stated: "She never backed down. Li is very smart and excels in physical confrontations, with excellent positioning awareness. We discussed having her take on this task before the game, and I’m glad she stepped up—this level of matchup intensity is exactly the defensive attitude we need."

A reporter then asked, "After coaching Li Yueru for a few games, how has her presence in the paint changed the team?"

The Wings' head coach responded: "We may not have fully tapped into her potential in the paint yet. However, she tirelessly contributes during transitions, and her physicality in screens helps create space for the guards, while also applying pressure on defense when rolling to the basket. Additionally, her mid-range and outside shooting is reliable; she can consistently hit shots when open—I'm looking forward to continuing to integrate her into our tactical system and exploring more possibilities."

Since Li Yueru joined the Wings, the team has a record of 3 wins and 1 loss, whereas before her arrival, they only managed a dismal 1 win and 11 losses. After this game, Li also expressed that she and the new coach and teammates trust each other.