July 25, 2025 • 17 mins
It’s Fan Out Friday. Khristina is joined by Dallas Wings center Li Yueru to talk about her trade from Seattle, building chemistry with new teammates like Paige Bueckers, and her journey from China to the WNBA. She also opens up about her entrepreneurial goals and her ambition to follow in Yao Ming’s footsteps by becoming a standout figure in both sports and culture.
Want more women’s basketball scoop? Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina, follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams
Let us know what you think of the show by leaving a rating and a review!
CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Producer:
Buffy Gorrilla
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Host:
Khristina Williams
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to another special episode of In Case
You Missed It with Christina Williams. And I'm super excited
(00:21):
about this week's episode because whenever we get the opportunity
to amplify or tell the stories or meet new players
around the W I always get super excited to just
dive in and get to know them. So without further ado,
today's guest is a center on the Dallas Wings and
(00:42):
I'm super excited to get to know a little bit
more about her. So please welcome to the show. Lee,
You Lee, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Hello, I'm Lee Nasa Mitiota guys.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So Lee, we like to start each show with our
guest share ding something good from the week, so we
call it our win of the week. So what is
something good that happened for you this week?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
This week, I feel, you know, I play more comfortable
and more cleanar on the court. I'm really you know,
appreciated for my team, my teammates. Everyone just tried to
help me stay on the court and then do more
(01:28):
good scenes on the court. So I'm really appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I think that's a great thing, just having you know,
a supportive group of teammates. Okay, so you recently was
traded to the Dallas Wings. How do you like playing
for the Wings so far?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I'm really appreciate about kerr and and you know, Chris,
I'm really appreciated they can give me a chance to
you know, stay on the court and then play on
the w And you know, I'm really happy to stay
here play in the Dallas I feel, you know, that's
really like the big home and I'm really happy and
(02:09):
you know, a lot of family and friends. They said,
we feel you are really happy in the Wings. I said, yes,
I'm really happy. Even we still have something to need
to figure out. A lot of things need to improve,
but you know, we are suppose us and we try
to you know, hug each other. So I think that's
(02:33):
really good feeling and that's really let me feel happy.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
I like that you said that you know you're finding
happiness playing for the Dallas Wings. I think fans have
been falling in love with how you and page backers
have been able to build a relationship. So how is
it playing with the page.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
She's really cute. She's a really really really good person.
And you know when I came to hear the first day,
second day, she she talked to me, and I can
feel she tried to let me feel, you know, close
to each other, and then she she makes some joke
(03:15):
between each us, plain us. So I feel, you know,
that's for me. It's really different. Page is really famous,
and then she's a really she have a you know,
she can do big things, and then she's really important
in this team. She do these things for me, I
(03:36):
feel really you know, really warm, and then let me
feel I can't Yes, I can, you know, into this
team as quickly as possible. So I really like her
and I really appreciate her. Yes, we do some some
of the small things in the locker room and on
(03:57):
the court. I feel really really happy to play with
her and then meet her, you know, play with her.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, is it true that you all went to six Flags?
Did you actually six Flags? How is that six flag strip?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
That's really cool? You know, we have a lot of
people go to the six Flag and you know that's
a big park. We close each other, and you know
when the people in the scary people will more close
to each other. So I feel we were went to
(04:39):
there and then play some buy some rats, and that's
really fun things. And I hope we will play in
there again. Maybe we will go another park or go
there again, but yeah, I hope we will have a
next time.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, there's nothing like being able to build with their
teammates off the court. It's the true that you were
afraid of the roller coasters.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, for me, I'm really afraid about you know, too
high or too fast. I try to buy some the
new because everything for me it's new. I did. I
never been six flight before, and sometimes I thought some
some red is too high or too scare me. I said,
(05:27):
oh no, that's not my tap. But one rep they
have a two circle page said that's okay, and that's
not really scary you that's not really bad. You can
try it. I said, okay, I will try this one.
And you know, my arm is shake whole way. I
(05:48):
can't open my eyes.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I just.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
I can't open my mouth. I feel if I open
my mouth my heart will jump out. So I said,
oh my god, I do not always try another one.
They were go another more scary one alreally high and
this street go down. I said, no, I can't. I
only can.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I'm just like you.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I'm just like you.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I do not like roller coasters. I don't like the
high or too fast, so I like to stay on
the small rides them. Okay, So going back to your
transition this season, you had requested a trade from Seattle,
and if there's anything that you want to say about
your time there or anything you want to set the
(06:35):
record straight on about why you decided to make your
move to Dallas.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I just feel I'm so happy now and I can't
play more time is my you know, the first step,
next step. I hope I can play goods on the
court and help teams get more wing.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
You know, I.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Really want to do you know, not only on the court.
I want to do more things, show other people I
can do more things and show them I can. I
can learn more and I will grow up fast. So
I try to do more things and then hope our
(07:24):
team can get in better and a later. How would
you say your teammates would describe you? Are you like funny?
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Quiet? How would they describe you your teammates?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
I think I'm I'm more quiet because I'm not really open,
and sometimes I'm I'm little bit shy, but I feel
they like to make some jokes to me, and I'm
really happy to do that. I try to, you know,
do more things with my teammates. I try to, you know,
(07:58):
don't be too shy. I'm happy to make some joke
or do some interesting things. But sometimes I'm not nice
tape player. I'm not that type people. So I try
to learn more and you know, change a little bit.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah, what is your favorite thing to do when you
are not playing basketball?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I hope I can become the businessman. So I really
like the bubble tea. And another dream is when I
you know, when I do not play play basketball, I
hope I can have the shop bubble tea shop or
(08:43):
you know, the small restaurant. I like that, you know
the My another favorite thing is eating good food or
get some good drink. So that's another dream.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I actually just recently had a bubble tea and it
was like a watermelon slush bubble tea and it was
so good. So what's your favorite bubble tea?
Speaker 2 (09:02):
My favorite bubbody is uh the I'm not sure that
that English name, but in the Dallas there have a
one Happy Lemo. I got to I went to there
sometimes and I order some other A lot of times.
I like well, and I really like to you know
(09:25):
some the different bubbody not too sweet, but I like
the there have a lots of different tips inside. So yeah,
I like that.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
You want to start your own bubble tea shop. I
think that it will do really, really well. What's one
thing that is surprising about you or something about you
(09:57):
that fans may not know?
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Not eat chocolate?
Speaker 1 (10:01):
That's a.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
That's not like. Yeah, I do know she eat chocolate,
or I need chocolate flower things. I don't know why,
but I don't like it. I'm not allogy or do something.
I just don't like it. I ask her my mom,
mom why Because my mom is a my mom fiery chocolate,
(10:23):
she love it anything. I ask her her why I
do not chocolate? She said, I don't know. Maybe when
she programs me, she eats too much chocolate. So I
don't like it. Oh, that is surprising.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
That is surprising. I actually love it. So you talked
about your mom and your relationship with her. What was
it like growing up in China? And when did you
start playing basketball?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I start playing boss part since I'm eleven years old.
I play in professional basketball is a sixteen years old
and yeah it's young, but not too young. And that's
why I'm really happy to play with you know, the
(11:16):
olds player because since I played basketball, I always play
with my with some sister teammates. So I'm really happy
to do some you know more things run more and
defense more, guy riy more more. I'm really happy to do.
(11:38):
I'm really glad to do that.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Seas.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Yeah, starting at eleven and being able to play with
older players, I think that, you know, it helps you
to grow your craft and to really develop your skills.
Who would you say inspired you to play basketball or
who is someone that you watched growing up?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
My family, they don't have any people play any sports,
so I do not watching someone when I, you know,
grow up. But when I into the China Chinese China
national team high a dream I became to try to
(12:20):
you know, learning and then I want to become like
the yoming in American. That's why I have another dream.
I want to like him. You know, he have many
uh America have many, many people know him and then
they know he played good. He play his work hard,
(12:43):
work hard, and he can do a lot of things
in the NBA. So I want to become like him. Uh,
you know, like people know Chinese people can do something
somethings and uh like him, play hard and then bring
more things to our team and show them we can
(13:05):
do more scenes and we can learn more scenes like that.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
I like that. I grew up watching Yao Ming when
he was playing in Houston with a Tracy, So that
that is a very big goal that you have, and
I feel like you are on your way to becoming
that example for young girls, especially with you already being
a professional. You said you've been playing since eleven years old,
So I think that that's something that's well within your
(13:33):
reach to be able to be like Yao Ming. How
does it feel as a role model to be able
to represent your home country in the w NBA.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
You know, I hope there can have a more you know,
Chinese people, all asia of people come to here. I know,
here is a really you know, really open to us,
and then it really will come to us. I just
hope we can, you know, we can work more hard
and then do more things, learn, learn fast, and then
(14:06):
come to hear quickly. You know, that's a really huge stage.
Everyone wants to show them in this stage. So I
hope we can have a really amazing, really wonderful roads
on this stage. So yeah, do you feel proud to
(14:27):
show people what Chinese players can do? Yeah, I'm really proud,
really proud of the irising. You know, when I standing
on this stage and then do some risings, I can
feel people really proud of me, and I'm really proud
of myself. And you know, Die probe push me to
(14:51):
do more things and then learn more. I'm really you know,
really really appreciate and feel good about that. You know,
there have many many fans to say say something to me,
and they say good, good things and try to you know,
that's really pushed, really pushed me to I have to
(15:13):
be more better and do more things.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Yeah, you have been playing some really really good basketball
for the Wings so far. What do you say one
of your goals is for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
This season, I hope we can win more games, and
you know, I hope our teammate can stay healthy and
we do more, you know, try to build in our team,
try to you know whatever in defense or offense, we
have to build build something. And I hope I can
(15:52):
do more things because I have many things need to improve.
So I hope we can use another game to build
and improved. The most importance is gets so waing gets
more wing, not only for the game, is a for
our team, for our you know, four dollars.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Well, we are looking forward to what you and the
Dallas Swings will do in the second half of the
WNBA season. Lee, thank you so much for joining us
this week on the show.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I had so much fun chatting with Lee. I'm a
little puzzled about not liking chocolate, but I absolutely adore
that she wants to open her own bubble tea shop
and she has a goal of being the next female
Yawl Ning.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
That is a huge goal to have.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I hope you guys enjoyed the conversation. Don't forget to subscribe,
rate and review the podcast, and we'll see you next time.
In case you missed it, with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to another special episode of In Case
You Missed It with Christina Williams. And I'm super excited
(00:21):
about this week's episode because whenever we get the opportunity
to amplify or tell the stories or meet new players
around the W I always get super excited to just
dive in and get to know them. So without further ado,
today's guest is a center on the Dallas Wings and
(00:42):
I'm super excited to get to know a little bit
more about her. So please welcome to the show. Lee,
You Lee, Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Hello, I'm Lee Nasa Mitiota guys.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So Lee, we like to start each show with our
guest share ding something good from the week, so we
call it our win of the week. So what is
something good that happened for you this week?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
This week, I feel, you know, I play more comfortable
and more cleanar on the court. I'm really you know,
appreciated for my team, my teammates. Everyone just tried to
help me stay on the court and then do more
(01:28):
good scenes on the court. So I'm really appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I think that's a great thing, just having you know,
a supportive group of teammates. Okay, so you recently was
traded to the Dallas Wings. How do you like playing
for the Wings so far?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I'm really appreciate about kerr and and you know, Chris,
I'm really appreciated they can give me a chance to
you know, stay on the court and then play on
the w And you know, I'm really happy to stay
here play in the Dallas I feel, you know, that's
really like the big home and I'm really happy and
(02:09):
you know, a lot of family and friends. They said,
we feel you are really happy in the Wings. I said, yes,
I'm really happy. Even we still have something to need
to figure out. A lot of things need to improve,
but you know, we are suppose us and we try
to you know, hug each other. So I think that's
(02:33):
really good feeling and that's really let me feel happy.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
I like that you said that you know you're finding
happiness playing for the Dallas Wings. I think fans have
been falling in love with how you and page backers
have been able to build a relationship. So how is
it playing with the page.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
She's really cute. She's a really really really good person.
And you know when I came to hear the first day,
second day, she she talked to me, and I can
feel she tried to let me feel, you know, close
to each other, and then she she makes some joke
(03:15):
between each us, plain us. So I feel, you know,
that's for me. It's really different. Page is really famous,
and then she's a really she have a you know,
she can do big things, and then she's really important
in this team. She do these things for me, I
(03:36):
feel really you know, really warm, and then let me
feel I can't Yes, I can, you know, into this
team as quickly as possible. So I really like her
and I really appreciate her. Yes, we do some some
of the small things in the locker room and on
(03:57):
the court. I feel really really happy to play with
her and then meet her, you know, play with her.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, is it true that you all went to six Flags?
Did you actually six Flags? How is that six flag strip?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
That's really cool? You know, we have a lot of
people go to the six Flag and you know that's
a big park. We close each other, and you know
when the people in the scary people will more close
to each other. So I feel we were went to
(04:39):
there and then play some buy some rats, and that's
really fun things. And I hope we will play in
there again. Maybe we will go another park or go
there again, but yeah, I hope we will have a
next time.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, there's nothing like being able to build with their
teammates off the court. It's the true that you were
afraid of the roller coasters.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, for me, I'm really afraid about you know, too
high or too fast. I try to buy some the
new because everything for me it's new. I did. I
never been six flight before, and sometimes I thought some
some red is too high or too scare me. I said,
(05:27):
oh no, that's not my tap. But one rep they
have a two circle page said that's okay, and that's
not really scary you that's not really bad. You can
try it. I said, okay, I will try this one.
And you know, my arm is shake whole way. I
(05:48):
can't open my eyes.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I just.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
I can't open my mouth. I feel if I open
my mouth my heart will jump out. So I said,
oh my god, I do not always try another one.
They were go another more scary one alreally high and
this street go down. I said, no, I can't. I
only can.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I'm just like you.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I'm just like you.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I do not like roller coasters. I don't like the
high or too fast, so I like to stay on
the small rides them. Okay, So going back to your
transition this season, you had requested a trade from Seattle,
and if there's anything that you want to say about
your time there or anything you want to set the
(06:35):
record straight on about why you decided to make your
move to Dallas.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I just feel I'm so happy now and I can't
play more time is my you know, the first step,
next step. I hope I can play goods on the
court and help teams get more wing.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
You know, I.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Really want to do you know, not only on the court.
I want to do more things, show other people I
can do more things and show them I can. I
can learn more and I will grow up fast. So
I try to do more things and then hope our
(07:24):
team can get in better and a later. How would
you say your teammates would describe you? Are you like funny?
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Quiet? How would they describe you your teammates?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
I think I'm I'm more quiet because I'm not really open,
and sometimes I'm I'm little bit shy, but I feel
they like to make some jokes to me, and I'm
really happy to do that. I try to, you know,
do more things with my teammates. I try to, you know,
(07:58):
don't be too shy. I'm happy to make some joke
or do some interesting things. But sometimes I'm not nice
tape player. I'm not that type people. So I try
to learn more and you know, change a little bit.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah, what is your favorite thing to do when you
are not playing basketball?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I hope I can become the businessman. So I really
like the bubble tea. And another dream is when I
you know, when I do not play play basketball, I
hope I can have the shop bubble tea shop or
(08:43):
you know, the small restaurant. I like that, you know
the My another favorite thing is eating good food or
get some good drink. So that's another dream.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I actually just recently had a bubble tea and it
was like a watermelon slush bubble tea and it was
so good. So what's your favorite bubble tea?
Speaker 2 (09:02):
My favorite bubbody is uh the I'm not sure that
that English name, but in the Dallas there have a
one Happy Lemo. I got to I went to there
sometimes and I order some other A lot of times.
I like well, and I really like to you know
(09:25):
some the different bubbody not too sweet, but I like
the there have a lots of different tips inside. So yeah,
I like that.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
You want to start your own bubble tea shop. I
think that it will do really, really well. What's one
thing that is surprising about you or something about you
(09:57):
that fans may not know?
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Not eat chocolate?
Speaker 1 (10:01):
That's a.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
That's not like. Yeah, I do know she eat chocolate,
or I need chocolate flower things. I don't know why,
but I don't like it. I'm not allogy or do something.
I just don't like it. I ask her my mom,
mom why Because my mom is a my mom fiery chocolate,
(10:23):
she love it anything. I ask her her why I
do not chocolate? She said, I don't know. Maybe when
she programs me, she eats too much chocolate. So I
don't like it. Oh, that is surprising.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
That is surprising. I actually love it. So you talked
about your mom and your relationship with her. What was
it like growing up in China? And when did you
start playing basketball?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I start playing boss part since I'm eleven years old.
I play in professional basketball is a sixteen years old
and yeah it's young, but not too young. And that's
why I'm really happy to play with you know, the
(11:16):
olds player because since I played basketball, I always play
with my with some sister teammates. So I'm really happy
to do some you know more things run more and
defense more, guy riy more more. I'm really happy to do.
(11:38):
I'm really glad to do that.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Seas.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Yeah, starting at eleven and being able to play with
older players, I think that, you know, it helps you
to grow your craft and to really develop your skills.
Who would you say inspired you to play basketball or
who is someone that you watched growing up?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
My family, they don't have any people play any sports,
so I do not watching someone when I, you know,
grow up. But when I into the China Chinese China
national team high a dream I became to try to
(12:20):
you know, learning and then I want to become like
the yoming in American. That's why I have another dream.
I want to like him. You know, he have many
uh America have many, many people know him and then
they know he played good. He play his work hard,
(12:43):
work hard, and he can do a lot of things
in the NBA. So I want to become like him. Uh,
you know, like people know Chinese people can do something
somethings and uh like him, play hard and then bring
more things to our team and show them we can
(13:05):
do more scenes and we can learn more scenes like that.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
I like that. I grew up watching Yao Ming when
he was playing in Houston with a Tracy, So that
that is a very big goal that you have, and
I feel like you are on your way to becoming
that example for young girls, especially with you already being
a professional. You said you've been playing since eleven years old,
So I think that that's something that's well within your
(13:33):
reach to be able to be like Yao Ming. How
does it feel as a role model to be able
to represent your home country in the w NBA.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
You know, I hope there can have a more you know,
Chinese people, all asia of people come to here. I know,
here is a really you know, really open to us,
and then it really will come to us. I just
hope we can, you know, we can work more hard
and then do more things, learn, learn fast, and then
(14:06):
come to hear quickly. You know, that's a really huge stage.
Everyone wants to show them in this stage. So I
hope we can have a really amazing, really wonderful roads
on this stage. So yeah, do you feel proud to
(14:27):
show people what Chinese players can do? Yeah, I'm really proud,
really proud of the irising. You know, when I standing
on this stage and then do some risings, I can
feel people really proud of me, and I'm really proud
of myself. And you know, Die probe push me to
(14:51):
do more things and then learn more. I'm really you know,
really really appreciate and feel good about that. You know,
there have many many fans to say say something to me,
and they say good, good things and try to you know,
that's really pushed, really pushed me to I have to
(15:13):
be more better and do more things.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Yeah, you have been playing some really really good basketball
for the Wings so far. What do you say one
of your goals is for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
This season, I hope we can win more games, and
you know, I hope our teammate can stay healthy and
we do more, you know, try to build in our team,
try to you know whatever in defense or offense, we
have to build build something. And I hope I can
(15:52):
do more things because I have many things need to improve.
So I hope we can use another game to build
and improved. The most importance is gets so waing gets
more wing, not only for the game, is a for
our team, for our you know, four dollars.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Well, we are looking forward to what you and the
Dallas Swings will do in the second half of the
WNBA season. Lee, thank you so much for joining us
this week on the show.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I had so much fun chatting with Lee. I'm a
little puzzled about not liking chocolate, but I absolutely adore
that she wants to open her own bubble tea shop
and she has a goal of being the next female
Yawl Ning.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
That is a huge goal to have.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I hope you guys enjoyed the conversation. Don't forget to subscribe,
rate and review the podcast, and we'll see you next time.
In case you missed it, with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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