> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Storm Roster Roundup: Is Li Yueru a Breakout Candidate? - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/storm-roster-roundup-is-li-yueru-a-breakout-candidate/ - Published: 2025-03-25T23:27:35.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:20:56.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: Storm, Li Yueru \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="995"\] ![ Former Los Angeles Sparks and current Seattle Storm center Li Yueru posts up during a 2024 regular season game. Credit: Li Yueru/Instagram ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/yueru-format-original.jpg) Former Los Angeles Sparks and current Seattle Storm center Li Yueru posts up during a 2024 regular season game. Credit: Li Yueru/Instagram \[/caption\] The Seattle Storm are nearing the WNBA Draft on April 14 and will begin their preseason soon after on May 4\. It will be head coach Noelle Quinn’s fifth season leading the franchise and the first without franchise legend Jewell Loyd, ushering in a new era of Storm basketball. As the 2025 season approaches, we will [profile each of the 14 players currently on Seattle’s roster](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/storm-roster-roundup-what-will-katie-lou-samuelsons-role-be), exploring the best- and worst-case scenarios for each player while also examining realistic expectations. Then we will discuss the team’s draft selections and what they could add to the team. A two-time Olympian at age 25 but still unproven in the WNBA, center Li Yueru might be a rising star in the league. Will she emerge as a breakout candidate this season? ### **Background** Yueru (6-foot-7) is from the city of Changzhi in Shanxi, China. She made her professional basketball debut with the Guangdong Vermilion Birds (previously Dolphins) of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) in 2015 at just 15 years old. She played four seasons with Guangdong, appearing in 96 games (82 starts) during that span and tallying 18.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 block in 2018–19 at 18 years old. Yueru posted those numbers in just 26 minutes per game and shot 60.1 percent from the field. The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream drafted Yueru in 2019 (35th overall), but she opted to continue playing in the WBCA instead. During her tenure with the WCBA’s Inner Mongolia from 2020–23, Yueru’s WNBA rights were traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in February 2022 and subsequently dealt again in late March to the Chicago Sky for guard Lexie Brown — now also on the Storm roster after an offseason trade. She joined the team late and only appeared in 16 games (5.1 minutes per game) and departed from the team in July after averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds. Yueru didn’t play in the WNBA in 2023 due to an injury sustained overseas. However, in 2024, Yueru was traded back to the Sparks and appeared in 38 games (two starts). She totaled 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in the [most extensive WNBA action](https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/stats/%5F/id/4422426/li-yueru?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) of her already 10-year professional career. Yueru also competed with the Chinese National Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics — her second Olympic appearance — leading the team in points (17.7), rebounds (11) and field goal percentage (63 percent). The Storm [acquired Yueru’s rights in the Jewell Loyd trade](https://storm.wnba.com/news/seattle-storm-signs-li-yueru?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) on Feb. 1 and signed her later that day. ### **Best Case Scenario** Even though her WNBA impact has been minimal to this point, Yueru likely hasn’t reached her ceiling yet. The dominant numbers overseas may not immediately translate, but a best-case season for Yueru would be nearly 20 minutes per game and averages approaching 10 points and 5 rebounds per game. That’s more than within her abilities if there’s room in the lineup for her to get that much time on the floor. It’s not common to bring in a 25-year-old prospect with 10 years of professional experience already. Seattle may lean on that with an aging cast of post players on the current roster. ### **Worst Case Scenario** It may seem simple, but Yueru needs to make a jump in 2025 and be a reliable option in the rotation. The worst-case scenario would be anything short of that, which includes the potential of Yueru being left off the regular season roster if any of Seattle’s third-round picks excel in training camp and the preseason. With that still a possibility, this is a critical season for Yueru. ### **What to Expect in 2025** There’s a decent chance Yueru could be primed for a breakout season. Her potential is extremely high, even at the WNBA level. Yueru has been extremely efficient as a scorer in her overseas career, and that trait transferring to her WNBA game would be crucial in establishing her value. Coupled with her rebounding ability, Yueru will most likely be a quality role player for Seattle. Again, the Storm needs to begin planning for the future at the post positions, and Yueru’s 6-foot-7 build is a top-end physical trait. If she can round out her skill set, Yueru could be a player the Storm try to lock down long-term. #### **Previous Roster Roundups:** [**Katie Lou Samuelson**](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/storm-roster-roundup-what-will-katie-lou-samuelsons-role-be) **|** [**Zia Cooke**](https://sunfish-smilodon-3p8h.squarespace.com/home/storm-roster-roundup-can-former-top-10-pick-zia-cooke-find-a-role?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) **|** [**Brianna Fraser**](https://sunfish-smilodon-3p8h.squarespace.com/home/storm-roster-roundup-will-brianna-fraser-stick-in-seattle?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) **|** [**Mackenzie Holmes**](https://sunfish-smilodon-3p8h.squarespace.com/home/storm-roster-roundup-can-mackenzie-holmes-earn-first-wnba-action?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)