Seattle Storm center Li Yueru broke her silence on Thursday regarding her desire to leave the team, just days into the start of the 2025 WNBA season. Reports earlier this week revealed that the 6-foot-7 center had requested a trade, a move that caught many in the WNBA community by surprise.Yueru, who joined the Storm in the offseason as a part of a three-team deal from the LA Sparks, is on a one-year, $66,079 contract. Addressing her unexpected trade request, Yueru explained that her decision stems solely from a lack of playing time. She wants to join a team where she can contribute more significantly on the court rather than spending extended time on the bench."I came to America only for one reason, to play basketball," Yueru said, as quoted by sports writer Percy Allen. "This team is really perfect. (This) is the best team I’ve ever (been on). … We have the best post player in the world, we have 4 post players and I don't feel I have enough time."Li Yueru has slipped down the rotation, as coach Noelle Quinn has increasingly placed her trust in rookie Dominique Malonga. Over the past two games, Malonga has logged double-digit minutes in both outings, while Yueru’s playing time has been reduced to single digits, highlighting the shift in the team's frontcourt hierarchy.Li Yueru's stint with Seattle Storm in a nutshellLi Yueru has averaged just 9.1 minutes per game through eight appearances for the Seattle Storm this season, a notable drop from her 14.4-minute average last year with the LA Sparks. While she initially logged 17.5 minutes per game in her first few outings with the Storm, her playing time has since seen a steep decline. She's averaging 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds per game this season.According to ESPN, Yueru, one of the top players on the Chinese national team, is under a strict directive from the Chinese Basketball Federation to receive significant playing time in order to maintain her spot in the WNBA. Her recent reduction in minutes has only intensified pressure on her situation.