Just four games into her playing career at the Dallas Wings in 2025, China’s Li Yueru was already loving playing alongside No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers, so much so that the 6’7 forward briefly reflected on her time with the rookie. “So cute! said Yueru about Bueckers, even adding that they are “besties now.” Well, that friendship has only gotten stronger this season, as seen from Bueckers’ comment on the 27-year-old’s latest Instagram post hinting at a permanent goodbye.

“Liskiiii💙🥹” Bueckers wrote on Yueru’s Instagram post.

Li Yueru joined the Dallas Wings last year via trade with the Seattle Storm, who received a 2026 second-round and 2027 third-round draft pick for the 6’7 forward. Her arrival sparked immediate wins alongside Bueckers and former Wings head coach Chris Koclanes.

In 22 regular-season games at the Wings, the Chinese forward averaged 6.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. However, both Yueru’s and the Wings’ momentum were short-lived, as the Chinese forward missed the final ten games of the regular season due to an ACL sprain, while the Wings finished with a 10-34 record.

Following her first season, Yueru signed a one-year deal after accepting a qualifying offer on April 8, with a base salary of $277,500, according to Spotrac. However, Yueru’s role with the Wings deteriorated thanks to the additions of 2025 co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and Jessica Shephard, both of whom are forwards.

For the Wings at least, the new additions have been a success, especially Shephard, who averaged a double-double of 14.5 points and 11.1 rebounds in the regular season. And for the first time since 2023, the Jose Fernandez-coached Wings reached the playoffs, albeit as the seventh seed.

The reason Li Yueru left the Seattle Storm was because of a lack of playing time, as she averaged 8.7 minutes last season. While her move to the Wings resulted in her attaining 20.0 minutes per game and 12 starts, that was not the case under new Wings head coach Jose Fernandez this season.

Yueru’s minutes dropped to 10.3 this season, and her averages also told a similar story, dropping to 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. What’s worse, Yueru missed the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup after her replacement passport was lost in the mail and she wasn’t able to get a new one in time, according to ESPN.

And with her one-year qualifying offer now complete, the Chinese forward faces unrestricted free agency. While the 6’7 forward did not blatantly reveal her intentions to leave the Wings, the tone of her message suggested that could be the case.

“So grateful for this season, for the incredible teammates I got to share it with, and for every bit of love and support from our amazing fans. Thank you for being there, for believing in us, and for making this journey so special. 💖”

“See you soon at Unrivaled. ✨” Yueru wrote.

But for now, Yueru is more focused on her second season at Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league set to begin its third season during the WNBA offseason. Yueru is a part of Mist BC, the team that won the championship after defeating Phantom BC 80-74 in the final. With teammates like Breanna Stewart, Arike Ogunbowale, and Alanna Smith, the 6’7 forward is sure to make further strides in going back-to-back.

Unless the Wings want to take another chance with Yueru after what was a brighter first season, it seems more than likely that the 6’7 forward will take her talents elsewhere. And while the likes of Jessica Shephard and Awak Kuier are higher on Fernandez’s pecking order, the 6’7 could maybe help Shephard’s former franchise with her height advantage.

Li Yueru could be an interesting prospect for the Minnesota Lynx

We all saw the uninspiring effort pulled off by the Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the playoffs against the New York Liberty. The fact of the matter was that head coach Cheryl Reeve’s side was unable to match the intensity or cope with their physical dominance.

This was further proven when the 5’10 Lynx star rookie Olivia Miles was cornered on all fronts by the 6’4 Breanna Stewart and 6’6 Jonquel Jones, making her impact next to none compared to what we saw of her in the regular season.

Having a 6’7 forward in Yueru would be a welcome change for head coach Cheryl Reeve, whose team has consistently suffered against bigger, more physical teams. It is one of the big reasons why the Liberty had the Lynx’s number this season, as well as DPOY Angel Reese’s Atlanta Dream winning twice against them in the regular season.

Miles would certainly benefit from the Chinese forward’s physical stature, be it driving to the basket more clearly with her setting screens, or an increase in her playmaking proficiency thanks to Yueru’s paint dominance.

A fresh start would do wonders for Li Yueru, especially after her ACL sprain, World Cup miss, and eventually falling down the ladder for Jose Fernandez. Regardless, time will tell whether the 6’7 Chinese forward’s career trajectory will take a turn.