Recently, China’s U18 women’s basketball team narrowly lost in the final of the U18 Women’s Asian Cup.
Following the match, criticism and insults towards the team’s No. 8 player, Wang Jiaxin, have been prevalent. Today, the Wuhan Shengfan Women’s Basketball Team issued a solemn statement, which reads as follows:
[Solemn Statement]
After China’s U18 women’s basketball team claimed the runner-up position at the U18 Women’s Asian Cup, we, the club, have noticed rumors circulating online about our youth team member and captain of the Chinese U18 team, Wang Jiaxin. These rumors have severely damaged both her personal reputation and the image of our club. We hereby issue the following stern statement:
Firstly, Wang Jiaxin has no familial relationship with the head coach of the Chinese U18 women’s team, Wang Guizhi. In reality, both are native to different provinces – Hubei for Wang Jiaxin and Liaoning for Wang Guizhi – and they had no connection prior to the formation of the Chinese U18 Women’s Basketball Training Team.
Secondly, our club is not a sponsor of the Chinese U18 women’s team. Last year, out of concern for the long-term development of Chinese women’s basketball, we did provide support to the Chinese U16 women’s team, but that team is distinct from the current U18 team, and the donation has since been fully utilized. Therefore, there is no sponsorship relationship between our club and the Chinese U18 women’s team.
Wang Jiaxin’s appointment as the captain of the Chinese U18 team reflects the coaching staff’s recognition of her abilities, and her role as a key offensive player showcases her talent and hard work. We understand that basketball players are subject to discussion and critique; however, such discourse should be grounded in facts and should never resort to defamation.
In this U18 Women’s Asian Cup, Wang Jiaxin averaged 8 points and 6.8 assists per game, ranking fourth and first respectively in the team. Considering that the match against Australia was far from a guaranteed victory – as evidenced by the opponent’s lead lasting 33 minutes and 50 seconds – and the fact that the Chinese U18 team achieved their target of securing a top-three finish (compared to the sixth-place finish of last year’s U16 team), the vicious attacks on Wang Jiaxin are unwarranted.
Nonetheless, our club and Wang Jiaxin acknowledge that there were moments during the tournament where her decision-making could have been better, and she still has ample room for improvement. The loss has left her deeply frustrated and self-blaming. She apologizes to the fans who have supported and cared for the Chinese U18 women’s team, seeking understanding.
Playing as a guard in a national team with a dominant center, regardless of gender, is a high-pressure position. While most critics have good intentions, our club calls for consideration: “Let’s not make the national team a place where everyone fears to tread.” Would those hiding behind anonymous online accounts feel the same if their children were subjected to such cyberbullying? Compassion should apply universally. Given that these young players, under the age of 18, are still developing mentally and lack experience in dealing with public scrutiny, they need a more supportive environment to grow. Falsehoods can easily tarnish a reputation, so we kindly request restraint in words.
In this challenging time, our club stands firmly beside Wang Jiaxin. As for the defamatory remarks, our club is prepared to take legal action to protect the rights and interests of ourselves and our athletes.
This is our official statement.
Wuhan Shengfan Professional Basketball Club
July 2, 2024