Why millions of overseas basketball fans are following Sydney's newest star

Key points

• Chinese Olympian Yang Shuyu scored 20 points in her first home game for the Sydney Flames, helping them beat the Adelaide Lightning 95-68. The 24-year-old has more than five million followers on Douyin.
• She is one of four Chinese national team players in the WNBL this season. Opening-round attendance rose 40 per cent on last season.
• The league has also agreed a broadcast deal with Chinese media company YIDA covering every game of the 2026-27 season.