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Exclusive Interview

'Blocks, stops and PnR': Cole says Xu 'changes the game'

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'Blocks, stops and PnR': Cole says Xu 'changes the game'
'Blocks, stops and PnR': Cole says Xu 'changes the game'

Han Xu of the New York Liberty blocks a shot by Connecticut Sun forward Raegan Beers during a WNBA game at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 9, 2026 (AEST). Rebecca Cole believes Xu's elite rim protection will give Geelong Venom the confidence to pressure opponents aggressively on the perimeter in WNBL27. Photo: Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images

Rebecca Cole says Han Xu's arrival gives Geelong the confidence to pressure ball handlers all season

  • Geelong signs WNBL26 Defensive Player of the Year Han Xu.
  • Rebecca Cole says Xu's rim protection transforms the Venom's defence.
  • Chinese guard Wanglai Zhang also joins Geelong's revamped backcourt.

Two-time WNBL champion Bec Cole declared one thing was certain for the Geelong Venom in WNBL27 – its perimeter defence will be ultra-aggressive after the signing of Chinese superstar centre Han Xu.

WNBL26 Defensive Player of the Year Xu, 26, joined the Venom yesterday after anchoring Perth Lynx’s run to last season’s Grand Final Series against Townsville.

Xu, who is 2.11m, is a back-up centre for the New York Liberty in WNBA 2026 alongside Australians Rebecca Allen and development player Anneli Maley – Xu’s former Lynx teammate.

“Han Xu is a world-class player, and her experience in the WNBA, on the international stage, and in the WNBL is invaluable,” Cole told basketball.com.au in an exclusive interview.

“Having that kind of defensive shot blocker behind us gives our backcourt so much confidence to play aggressively.

“We’re building something really special here at Geelong, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the team.

“Her presence on the floor at both ends of the court is going to change the entire game for us.

“I can’t wait for the pick-and-roll game, throw up a few lobs, and run the court with her this season.

“To be a part of a team and a game where she brings so many fans is going to be something super special, and I can’t wait to be a part of it with the Geelong community.”

Han Xu of the New York Liberty blocks a shot by Washington Mystics centre Shakira Austin during a WNBA game at Barclays Center on June 20, 2026 (AEST). Rebecca Cole says Xu's elite rim protection will allow Geelong Venom to adopt an ultra-aggressive defensive style in WNBL27. Photo: Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images

Shooting guard Cole, 34, who hosts It’s a Cole World on basketball.com.au, signed with the Venom after seven years with the Dandenong Rangers / Southside Melbourne Flyers. She won a WNBL championship with the Flyers in 2024.

Cole has scored more than 3,000 points in her more than 250-game career.

She also led the Waverley Falcons to the 2024 NBL1 National Championship, winning the Grand Final MVP, but didn’t suit up in WNBL25, instead spending time in the commentary box and hosting It’s A Cole World.

Rebecca Cole: Five Fast Facts

  • Two-time WNBL champion with Southside Flyers
  • NBL1 National Champion and Finals MVP (2024)
  • WNBL All-Star Five selection (2019)
  • AIS graduate with more than 15 years’ professional experience
  • Represented multiple Victorian clubs across WNBL, NBL1 and Big V

Rebecca Cole: Career Highlights Timeline

  • ‍2009: Commenced AIS scholarship‍
  • 2012: Signed first WNBL contract with Bulleen Boomers‍
  • 2018: Joined Dandenong Rangers (Southside Flyers)‍
  • 2019: WNBL All-Star Five; Runner-up MVP‍
  • 2020: First WNBL Championship‍
  • 2022: Joined Waverley Falcons (NBL1 South)‍
  • 2024: WNBL Champion; NBL1 National Champion; Finals MVP

On the same day Geelong revealed it had secured Xu, it also announced the signing of 32-year-old Chinese star guard Wanglai Zhang to bolster a backcourt led by Maddi Rocci.

Competition

Han Xu — 2025-26 club season game by game

18 games · 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a night
1 Mar 2026 29:11 18 9 6 4 1 1 4 6 12 50.0 0 2 0.0 6
26 Feb 2026 34:29 16 6 3 2 1 1 3 8 16 50.0 0 2 0.0 0
17 Feb 2026 25:17 25 13 1 4 0 2 2 12 22 54.5 1 2 50.0 0
14 Feb 2026 31:23 12 4 1 1 0 2 0 4 13 30.8 1 2 50.0 3
7 Feb 2026 26:53 14 10 4 2 3 2 0 6 12 50.0 1 3 33.3 1
1 Feb 2026 25:29 18 6 3 3 0 3 2 9 15 60.0 0 1 0.0 0
27 Jan 2026 10:57 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 25.0 0 3 0.0 0
20 Jan 2026 29:38 11 5 1 4 0 1 2 5 10 50.0 1 3 33.3 0
15 Jan 2026 30:35 14 10 0 1 1 1 2 6 17 35.3 1 2 50.0 1
10 Jan 2026 28:02 12 7 2 1 2 0 0 5 11 45.5 0 1 0.0 2
4 Jan 2026 33:02 30 15 0 3 2 3 2 12 20 60.0 2 5 40.0 4
2 Jan 2026 25:05 9 5 0 1 0 2 1 4 11 36.4 0 1 0.0 1
28 Dec 2025 26:08 22 5 2 1 1 1 2 9 12 75.0 1 1 100.0 3
23 Dec 2025 25:27 11 8 1 4 0 4 2 5 11 45.5 1 5 20.0 0
21 Dec 2025 29:29 9 7 2 1 1 3 3 4 11 36.4 1 3 33.3 0
14 Dec 2025 32:23 28 13 1 4 2 3 1 11 21 52.4 2 5 40.0 4
5 Dec 2025 25:38 19 3 1 1 2 2 2 6 13 46.2 2 4 50.0 5
29 Nov 2025 28:41 22 4 1 2 1 3 1 10 12 83.3 1 3 33.3 1
Totals 497:47 292 130 30 39 17 34 30 123 243 50.6 15 48 31.3 31
Per game 27.7 16.2 7.2 1.7 2.2 0.9 1.9 1.7 6.8 13.5 50.6 0.8 2.7 31.3 1.7
Source: basketball.com.au

Han Xu — WNBA career per game

Regular season averages · New York Liberty · 4 seasons played · drafted 14th overall in 2019
Year Age G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% 2P 2PA 2P% eFG% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2019 19 18 0 7.9 1.3 3.2 .414 0.3 0.6 .500 1.1 2.7 .396 .457 0.1 0.1 .500 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 3.0
2020 20 Did not play — opted out of the 2020 season
2021 21 Did not play — no WNBA appearance
2022 22 32 0 16.8 3.4 6.9 .493 0.5 1.1 .444 2.9 5.8 .503 .529 1.2 1.5 .796 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.7 1.0 8.5
2023 23 8 0 4.5 0.8 2.5 .300 0.0 0.9 .000 0.8 1.6 .462 .300 0.0 0.0 — 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.3 1.5
2026 26 27 2 12.5 2.0 3.9 .519 0.7 1.7 .400 1.4 2.3 .607 .604 0.4 0.6 .800 0.5 1.6 2.1 0.7 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.7 5.2
Career — 85 2 12.4 2.3 4.8 .479 0.5 1.2 .398 1.8 3.6 .505 .527 0.6 0.8 .788 0.7 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.7 5.6
Source: Basketball Reference and basketball.com.au

WNBL clubs — profiles and where they play

9 clubs · 9 profiles published
Profile
Adelaide Lightning South AustraliaSA Read profile
Bendigo Spirit VictoriaVIC Read profile
Canberra Capitals ACTACT Read profile
Geelong Venom VictoriaVIC Read profile
Perth Lynx Western AustraliaWA Read profile
Southside Flyers VictoriaVIC Read profile
Sydney Flames New South WalesNSW Read profile
Tasmania Jewels TasmaniaTAS Read profile
Townsville Fire QueenslandQLD Read profile
Every WNBL club and its basketball.com.au profile. Sort by club or state by tapping a heading; tap again to reverse, and a third time to return to alphabetical order. Club logos are trademarks of their respective clubs and the WNBL, used here for editorial identification.

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