Li Ying (footballer, born 1993)

Full name Li Ying

Date of birth (1993-01-07) 7 January 1993 (age 33)

Place of birth Dadukou, Chongqing, Sichuan, China

Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)^[1]

Li Ying
李影

Personal information
Full name	Li Ying
Date of birth	(1993-01-07) 7 January 1993 (age 33)
Place of birth	Dadukou, Chongqing, Sichuan, China
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position	Striker
Team information
Current team	Chongqing Yongchuan Chashanzhuhai
Number	10
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012	Hangzhou Xizi
2013	Suwon FMC
2014–2018	Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C
2019	Guangdong
2020-2021	Shandong Jinghua	13	(7)
2022	Zhejiang Hangzhou	1	(2)
2023-	Chongqing Yongchuan Chashanzhuhai	3	(1)
International career‡
2012–2013	China U-20	5	(0)
2012–2022	China	121	(48)
Medal record Women's football Representing  China AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 India 2018 Jordan 2014 Vietnam Asian Games 2018 Palembang Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 June 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 February 2020

Li Ying (Chinese: 李影; pinyin: Lǐ Yǐng; born 7 January 1993) is a Chinese footballer who plays for Chongqing Yongchuan Chashanzhuhai in the Chinese Women's Super League. Considered a star of the sport in China,^[2][3] she plays as a forward.^[4]

On June 22, 2021, she announced on Chinese microblogging platform Sina Weibo her relationship with girlfriend Chen Leilei. This made Li the first Chinese sports player to officially come out as a lesbian.^[5] Her Weibo post went viral before it was deleted, with some speculating that Li might have been put under pressure from authorities following the announcement.^[6]

After coming-out, she was selected for the Chinese team in the Women’s Asian Cup in India of 2022,^[3][7] appearing as a substitute in the first match of the tournament, a 4-0 victory against Chinese Taipei.^[8]