China's star NBA center Yao Ming and wife Ye Li are the proud parents of a baby girl, a statement released by his US representatives on Friday said.

The baby was born in Houston on Friday and weighs 7 pounds, 9 ounces, according to the announcement from BDA Sports Management. Both mother and daughter are in good health.

"I am very excited about the arrival of our daughter," Yao said. "This is a very special moment in our lives and we thank everyone for their kindness and support."

The couple's decision to return to their home in Houston, where Yao plays for the NBA's Rockets, had sparked some debate among Yao's fans in China, some of whom were dismayed by the idea the child could have an American passport.

Yao and his wife returned to the USA earlier this year after spending several months in China as he recovered from a broken foot that forced him to miss the entire NBA season.

姚明的妻子葉莉于北京時間5月22日凌晨，在休斯敦當地醫院順利產下一女，體重3.6公斤，母女平安。

初為人父的姚明在激動之余，首先對于各界人士的關心表示感謝，同時，也希望自己的女兒在相對寬松的環境里快樂成長。

如今，千金的誕生不但為姚明一家帶來喜悅，估計姚明女兒的國籍問題將再度被提及。除了國籍，姚明女兒的名字也是大家十分想知道的，而且一直在幫 姚明想來想去。其實早在一個月前姚明就已透露，自己已經想好了女兒名字，不過他沒有大方地公布，只是說：“取好名字了，可是我不告訴你叫什么，回答一半就 好了。”

女籃國手苗立杰爆料：“因為姚明和葉莉兩人名字的開頭字母都是Y，以后孩子的小名可能會叫YY！”