Han's solo impact: The force of Xu's takeover

• ‍Lynx land towering WNBA star Han Xu for WNBL26‍
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• New Wave: Meet the WNBL26 import players
• Life's a beach for Perth Lynx in Han Xu's first start

Chinese women's basketball star Han Xu won't win the WNBL26 MVP only because she missed the first eight games of the season.

That honour is tracking toward Bendigo Spirit star and Australian Opal Isobel Borlase.

But the reality is Xu, 26, has turned the WNBL inside out and upside down since she first walked onto the floor on November 29, 2025 for the Perth Lynx.

The 2.11m former WNBA centre has changed the shape of the game and every WNBL scout already.

The numbers are off the charts. Before Xu arrived the Lynx were -3.6 ppg at 5-3. They are now 5-0 and +22.2 ppg. That is a 25.8 ppg swing.

Pre-Xu (Rounds 1–6)

Games: 8
Record: 5–3

• Points For: 72.5 ppg
• Points Against: 76.1 ppg
• Net Rating (raw): –3.6 ppg

Profile: Competitive. Perth were winning games, but doing it with a negative scoring margin, driven by offensive stagnation and matchup sensitivity.

This was a good team but with structural limits.

Xu debut and after (from Nov 29)

Perth Lynx with Xu

• Sat, Nov 29 (R7): Canberra 67, Perth 91
• Fri, Dec 5 (R8): Perth 98, Southside 81
• Sun, Dec 14 (R9): Townsville 81, Perth 97
• Sun, Dec 21 (R10): Adelaide 82, Perth 109
• Tue, Dec 23 (R10): Perth 75, Canberra 49

Record: 5–0
Average margin: +22.2
Opponents held ≤70 points: 3 of 5

Han Xu WNBL26 Season Averages

GP: 5 │ MIN: 28.3 │ PTS: 17.8 │ REB: 7.0 │ AST: 1.2 │ STL: 1.2 │ BLK: 2.4 │ FG: 36–68 (52.9%) │ 3PT: 7–20 (35.0%) │ FT: 10–14 (71.4%) │ TO: 3.0 │ PF: 1.8

This is not noise. It’s a step-change.

The box score will show Han hasn't top scored for the Lynx in the past two wins. Point guard Alex Ciabattoni went off against Adelaide in their 109-82 demolition. She dropped a game-high 32 points on 12-from-16 from the field while Amy Atwell had 28 points.

Atwell backed that up with 28 points against the UC Capitals on Tuesday, December 23. Anneli Maley tipped in 16 points and 21 rebounds in the 75-49 route.

But box scores don't tell the whole story, even though Xu put up 11 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks against Canberra.

Perth signed Brianna Turner at the start of the season in preparation for Xu's arrival. Perth head coach Ryan Petrik said Turner was fitting her role into the role they wanted Xu to play.

The upgrade has been nothing short of elite.

Where Han Xu sits offensively

• PPP: 1.01 (solid, not inflated)
• 2FG%: 63.0% (elite)
• 3PA/FGA: 30.3% (outlier for a centre)
• Pts: 17.8 on controlled usage

Interpretation: Han Xu isn’t just finishing – she’s forcing defensive decisions. Few centres in the league combine elite rim efficiency and credible pick-and-pop range.

Han Xu defensively

• PPP allowed: 0.79 (excellent)
• Score% allowed: 33.3%
• 2FG% allowed: 42.9%
• Defensive rank: lower due to the amount of games, not effect

Interpretation: Han Xu is not switching everything – but in drops and at the rim, opponents are significantly less efficient.

Han Xu’s combined value

• Positive PPP differential on both ends
• Creates spacing without sacrificing rim defence
• Forces opponents to choose between:
  • Staying home on shooters
  • Leaving her in drop
  • Switching smaller defenders (bad outcome)

She sits in the rarest archetype in the league. And this is why Atwell, Ciabattoni and Maley are destroying box scores.

Perth fired a pretty significant warning shot, beating the Townsville Fire 97-81 in Townsville in Xu's third game. The Lynx face last-placed Geelong (3-11) at home on December 28 and then (4-9) Adelaide Lightning on January 2, 2026 before getting Canberra again on January 4, 2026.

It's highly likely, Perth will be 13-3 in no time. How Bendigo handles Xu will be on full display on January 15, 2026 and Townsville on January 20, 2026.

In the meantime, Xu and the Lynx are top of Hayley Wildes WNBL Power Rankings and the rest of the league are on notice.

Xu is the real deal.

Han Xu WNBL26 Box Scores

vs Canberra Capitals — Dec 23, 2025

MIN: 25 │ PTS: 11 │ REB: 8 │ AST: 1 │ STL: 0 │ BLK: 4 │ FG: 5–11 (45.5%) │ 3PT: 1–5 (20.0%) │ FT: 0–0 │ TO: 4 │ PF: 2

vs Adelaide Lightning — Dec 21, 2025

MIN: 29 │ PTS: 9 │ REB: 7 │ AST: 2 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 1 │ FG: 4–11 (36.4%) │ 3PT: 1–3 (33.3%) │ FT: 0–0 │ TO: 3 │ PF: 3

vs Townsville Fire — Dec 14, 2025

MIN: 32 │ PTS: 28 │ REB: 13 │ AST: 1 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 4 │ FG: 11–21 (52.4%) │ 3PT: 2–5 (40.0%) │ FT: 4–6 (66.7%) │ TO: 3 │ PF: 1

vs Southside Flyers — Dec 5, 2025

MIN: 25 │ PTS: 19 │ REB: 3 │ AST: 1 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 1 │ FG: 6–13 (46.2%) │ 3PT: 2–4 (50.0%) │ FT: 5–6 (83.3%) │ TO: 2 │ PF: 2

vs Canberra Capitals — Nov 29, 2025

MIN: 28 │ PTS: 22 │ REB: 4 │ AST: 1 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 2 │ FG: 10–12 (83.3%) │ 3PT: 1–3 (33.3%) │ FT: 1–2 (50.0%) │ TO: 3 │ PF: 1