BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's women's basketball center Li Yueru announced Monday that she will pull out of the 15th National Games while still recovering from her left knee injury.

Li suffered an anterior cruciate ligament sprain in her left knee while playing for the Dallas Wings in the 2025 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) season in August, and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.

"Even after suffering a second injury to my left knee in this year's WNBA, I still had high hopes for the National Games. My plan has always been to return to the team in mid-October for training and competition, while doctors continue to monitor my recovery," Li posted on the Weibo social media platform.

"However, since my recovery and condition have not met the optimal standard, the doctors advise that, given my current situation, it is best not to force myself to compete, as the risk of getting re-injured is high and could affect all subsequent competitions," she added.

Li admitted it's "really tough" to make this decision. "On one hand, having not seen everyone at home for so long, I badly want to step onto the National Games court with you and fight for the title alongside my Guangdong teammates. On the other hand, I will have the duty of competing in the Unrivaled women's 3x3 league in January and the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup qualifiers in March next year," she continued.

"I need a long enough recovery to come back healthy and not miss the national team competitions. I hope to see you at the next arena fully fit," Li concluded.

Li averaged 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in the 2025 WNBA season, scoring a career-high 20 points in the Wings' 81-80 victory over the Indiana Fever on August 12. Enditem