A Historic Recruit
Iowa State women's basketball head coach Bill Fennelly announced the addition of Xiao "Smile" Zhang to the 2026‑27 roster, cementing the Chinese center as the program's first player from China.
Zhang arrives after a standout collegiate career at Beijing Normal University, where she helped the team capture the 2025 Chinese University Basketball Association League (CUBAL) Northeast Division title. In the championship game she recorded 18 points and nine rebounds, and she finished the season averaging 12.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks.
Her performances earned her a spot on the Chinese national team, where she continued to demonstrate versatility and defensive presence. The move completes the Cyclones' recruiting class, bringing the total number of scholarship players to 13 for the upcoming season.
Coach Fennelly praised Zhang's skill set and work ethic, noting that her size and shooting range will add a new dimension to the team's interior game. The signing reflects the program's expanding global reach and its commitment to competing at the highest level of collegiate basketball.