BERLIN, Sept 10 — Chinese teenager Zhang Ziyu has towered over the women’s basketball World Cup in Berlin — and her coach has tipped the 2.23-metre tall player for the very top, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

As one of the tallest women in the world, she looks primed for a possible career in the WNBA in North America, although experts say the 19-year-old still needs to learn how to use her body for maximum impact.

The Chinese team have a special training programme for her before games which she completes away from the rest of the squad.

Her coach Gong Luming told reporters that she is “a once-in-a-century talent not only for our country but for the world.”

United States (US) star Caitlin Clark said last week that “I’ve never played against a woman of that size” — although favourites the US ran out easy 94-61 winners in group play.

Even at the age of 7, Zhang measured 1.60 m, several heads taller than other girls and boys her age. — Bernama-dpa