Just over a month after being traded from the Seattle Storm to the Dallas Wings, Li Yueru returned to Climate Pledge Arena Tuesday night with greater clarity about her WNBA career.
In her first game back in Seattle since the June 14 deal, Yueru delivered a game-high 10 rebounds and added eight points to help power the Wings past her former team, 87–63 — Dallas’ most complete win of the season, and their third-largest margin of victory over the Storm in franchise history.
“I was so happy to come back here,” Yueru told DallasHoopsJournal.com postgame. “To be honest, I felt a little nervous, and I didn’t really find a good rhythm on offense. So I tried to do other things to help the team win.”
Li Yueru Provides Impact Beyond the Box Score
And she did. After a rocky Dallas start, the Wings fell behind 8–0 With six early turnovers, Yueru knocked down a confident top-of-the-key three to stop the bleeding, one of several early plays that steadied the team. Her rebounding helped flip possession battles all night as Dallas outrebounded Seattle 48–34, tying a season high on the glass.
“For myself, I feel I still need to improve on defense — like how to position myself between the dribbler and shooter, and how to give space,” Yueru told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “That’s something I’ll keep working on.”
Still, Yueru’s interior presence gave Dallas something it lacked in the early part of the season — size, poise, and spacing. Since the trade, she’s averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 rebounds and has become a central part of Dallas’ evolving frontcourt identity. She’s now shooting 46.8% from the floor, 43.5% from beyond the arc, and 85.7% on free throws.
Head coach Chris Koclanes praised her effort.
“We talk a lot about gang rebounding,” Koclanes said. “Everyone has to contribute, and Li’s been steady. She plays hard, stays in the right spots, and has become a big part of what we’re trying to build.”
Li Yeueru’s Growing Confidence and Chemistry
Since arriving in Dallas, Yueru has continued to grow in her confidence. No longer a spare piece in the rotation, she’s been embraced by the coaching staff and teammates alike, trusted to play through mistakes, space the floor, and anchor key defensive stretches. That belief, she said, has made all the difference.
“I feel like the team gives me a lot of energy,” Yueru told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “They believe in me and make me feel like I can do more. Even when I don’t feel great on offense, they still trust me and keep me on the court to help in other ways. I really appreciate that, and I promise I’ll keep getting better.”
That growing trust is visible in her on-court partnership with fellow post Luisa Geiselsöder.
“I’m starting to understand her movements better — what shots and passes she likes,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She can shoot from the outside, and I can be inside, so we balance each other well. It’s a good fit.”
Tuesday’s game marked her second performance with double-digit rebounds since the move to Dallas, and came on a night when the Wings played arguably their sharpest second half of the year, outscoring Seattle 53–27 over the final 20 minutes.
While much of the attention focused on Arike Ogunbowale’s milestone (becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in field goals made), Yueru’s return was certainly meaningful — a personal milestone in comfort, confidence, and contribution.
Ending a four-game losing streak, Yueru was eager to do whatever was necessary to get the Wings back in the win column.
“I just wanted to help us win,” she said. “And I’m really happy we did.”
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