Basketballs to be used in the event are shown during the news conference. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The Women's Chinese Basketball Association is under the spotlight, with the WCBA All-Star Weekend set to take place in Hangzhou – capital of East China's Zhejiang province – at the Huanglong Sports Center on Feb 22-23.

At a news conference on Feb 17, organizers revealed that alongside star players like Li Meng and Han Xu, humanoid and canine robots that went viral during the China Central Television's Spring Festival Gala would also make an appearance as cheerleaders.

The Women's Chinese Basketball Association, also known as the WCBA, is the first-tier professional women's basketball league in China.

According to the news conference, this year's event will highlight the league's emerging talent and Hangzhou's vibrant energy. The two-day spectacle will feature the All-Star Game, the Rising Stars Challenge, a Three-Point Contest and a Skills Challenge.

Zhao Ke, chairman of the Zhejiang Basketball Association, said the event would provide a premier platform for the China's women's basketball team to showcase its world-class talent.

He also noted that hosting such a high-level tournament reflected Zhejiang's commitment to strengthening its reputation as a powerhouse in sports development.

Zhejiang's own Wang Jiaqi will make her second consecutive All-Star appearance at the event and she expressed her excitement about competing in her home province at the news conference.

Adding a futuristic twist, high-tech humanoid and dog-shaped robots from Unitree Robotics and Deep Robotics will interact with fans and perform live demonstrations. The details of their performance remain a surprise, set to be unveiled at the event.

Another highlight of this year's All-Star Weekend is the introduction of the world's first full-pattern vector sports flooring, a cutting-edge innovation in professional basketball courts.

Players display basketball wear at the news conference. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]