28
May
Free Agency
'Clutch Queen' Wang Siyu becomes a Southside Flyer
Wang Siyu #1 of China reacts during the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup 3rd Place Game match between China and South Korea at Shenzhen Sports Center on July 20, 2025 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. Photo: Gao Meng/VCG via Getty Images
Highlights
Another Chinese superstar has arrived in the WNBL, joining a new era at the Flyers
- How Aussie great Sam Mackinnon plans to fly high with Southside
- Lynx legend Sami Whitcomb returns to Perth on a two-year deal
- WNBL27 Roster Tracker: Every move in free agency
The new are at the Southside Melbourne Flyers under Australian basketball legend Sam Mackinnon has received a major boost after signing Chinese superstar Wang Siyu for the 2026-27 season.
Siyu, otherwise known as 'Rainy' or the 'Clutch Queen', is best known for her big performances for China on the FIBA international scene, including making two clutch free-throws to beat the Australian Opals in the semi-final at the World Cup in Sydney in 2022.
The 30-year-old guard joins the Flyers as the second Chinese superstar in as many years to arrive in the WNBL after New York Liberty centre Han Xu helped lead the Perth Lynx to the grand final series last season.
Siyu's signing adds to a revamped Flyers roster, which already features young Aussie guard Saffron Shiels, back up point guard Hayley Andrews and centre Hannah Hank with several more rising stars set to join Mackinnon's roster.
She will also be in Melbourne in July when China take on the Opals at John Cain Arena on July 7 and 9.
The WNBL's dive into the Asian market is something which boosted interest in the league last season, which five-time champion and Bendigo Spirit Kelsey Griffin said she would love to see more of following a playoff series against Xu and the Lynx.
“Having Han here, I think, has been incredible," Griffin, 38, said in February.
"I think that if I was in charge of the league, I would be looking at how we can make a better bridge into Asia and look at expanding that market and clearly, like they’re one of the closest countries next to us.
"China’s a powerhouse, and I think that’s an incredible opportunity for what we can do to grow.”
Australian leagues have become popular for China's best players, even in the NBL1, where the Melbourne Tigers made major international additions to their women's NBL1 South roster by signing Chinese National Team stars Shuyu Yang and Chen Mingling.
The signings have resulted in sold out crowds for the Tigers, something that would be music to the ears of the Southside ownership, despite the Flyers already having a significant fan base which packs out Melbourne's State Basketball Centre.
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