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.

　　姚明的妻子叶莉于北京时间5月22日凌晨，在休斯敦当地医院顺利产下一女，体重3.6公斤，母女平安。

　　初为人父的姚明在激动之余，首先对于各界人士的关心表示感谢，同时，也希望自己的女儿在相对宽松的环境里快乐成长。

　　如今，千金的诞生不但为姚明一家带来喜悦，估计姚明女儿的国籍问题将再度被提及。除了国籍，姚明女儿的名字也是大家十分想知道的，而且一直在帮 姚明想来想去。其实早在一个月前姚明就已透露，自己已经想好了女儿名字，不过他没有大方地公布，只是说：“取好名字了，可是我不告诉你叫什么，回答一半就 好了。”

　　女篮国手苗立杰爆料：“因为姚明和叶莉两人名字的开头字母都是Y，以后孩子的小名可能会叫YY！”