'Xu-topia' creating space for Wilson and Maley

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The Perth Lynx delivered a comprehensive wire-to-wire performance, cruising past the UC Capitals 75–49 at the Perth High Performance Centre on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 in Round 10 of WNBL26 in Perth.

Perth seized control early and never relinquished it, leading for 37:59 of game time and stretching the margin to as much as 29 points. The Lynx built separation through relentless defensive pressure and dominance on the glass, holding Canberra to 23.8% shooting from the field and just 49 points overall.

Ally Wilson was outstanding, pouring in 28 points on elite efficiency (6-of-8 from two, 5-of-10 from three) while adding six assists. Anneli Maley, who missed out the Opals World Cup squad, was everywhere, finishing with 16 points, 21 rebounds, and four assists, completely controlling the interior. Maley was just one board away from equally the Lynx single game record of 22, which she holds.

Han Xu provided her usual two-way presence with 11 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks, anchoring a Lynx defence that suffocated Canberra across all four quarters.

Xu has changed the WNBL landscape with her presence. Teams are now scouting her heavily and she is creating space for her teammates to score the ball and, in Maley's case, grab an extraordinary 21 boards.

"I’m never thinking about how many rebounds I’m getting," Maley said.

"I’m just trying to get the ball. And I think that if you start counting them, then, like, why are you doing it, you know?"

For the Capitals, Kadiatou Sissoko was the lone bright spot with 20 points, while Zitina Aokuso added 10 points and six rebounds, but Canberra struggled to generate clean looks or sustained momentum, managing just three made three-pointers for the game.

The result underlined Perth’s balance and physical edge, as the Lynx combined scoring punch, rebounding dominance (54–47), and defensive discipline to register one of their most authoritative wins of the season.

Perth are on a roll, they've won their past five straight and are unbeaten with Xu in the line-up.

"You’ve just gotta keep pace with Townsville and Bendigo," head coach Ryan Petrik said.

"First off, we haven’t won enough yet. We’re on 10 and 3. It’s a 23-game season. You’re probably gonna need at least 12 wins to make finals. We’re still short of that.

"So we’ve gotta keep winning. And then clearly with all three teams — ourselves, Bendigo, Townsville — if that is the top three come finals, all three teams have got a really good home-court advantage.

"Trying to get two of those games out of the three in your own building is gonna be huge. So while they keep winning, we don’t really have a choice — we have to keep winning."

Key Details

• Result: Perth Lynx 75 def. UC Capitals 49
• When: Monday, 23rd December 2025
• Where: Perth High Performance Centre, Perth
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Ally Wilson (Perth Lynx) starred with 28 points, one rebound, six assists and three steals in 34 minutes.
• Kadiatou Sissoko (UC Capitals) scored 20 points, and had five rebounds and one assist in 28 minutes.

What Happened

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The Perth Lynx established early control and never relinquished their grip on proceedings, building a commanding 21-14 first-quarter advantage before extending their dominance throughout the contest. The hosts outscored UC Capitals in three of four periods, with their most devastating stretch coming in the final quarter where they outpaced their opponents 18-8 to seal the comprehensive victory.

Perth's offensive efficiency proved the defining factor, with the Lynx shooting a solid 46% from the field compared to UC Capitals' dismal 24% conversion rate. The home side's balanced attack was exemplified by their outstanding performance from downtown, connecting on 10-from-32 three-point attempts at a 31% clip, while the visitors managed just three triples from 11 attempts.

Wilson's masterful display anchored Perth's victory, with the guard shooting an outstanding 12-from-18 from the field, including 5-from-10 from beyond the arc. Her ability to create scoring opportunities for teammates was equally impressive, dishing out six dimes while committing just two turnovers. Wilson's plus-minus of +25 highlighted her impact across both ends of the court.

Anneli Maley provided exceptional support with 16 points and a game-high 21 rebounds, cleaning the glass with authority while shooting efficiently at 67% from two-point range. Han Xu contributed 11 points and eight boards, including four blocks that helped establish Perth's defensive presence in the paint. The Lynx dominated the interior, outscoring UC Capitals 32-26 in points in the paint despite being outrebounded 47-54.

For UC Capitals, Sissoko's 20-point effort on 8-from-19 shooting provided the lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing offensive display. The visitors struggled with ball security early but managed to limit turnovers to 12 compared to Perth's 15. However, their poor shooting accuracy, particularly from two-point range where they converted at just 24%, proved insurmountable against Perth's balanced scoring attack that featured four players reaching double figures.

The victory sees Perth Lynx maintain their strong home form, having controlled the game for nearly 38 minutes compared to UC Capitals' mere 20 seconds in the lead. The 29-point margin represented Perth's largest advantage of the contest, showcasing their ability to sustain pressure throughout all four quarters in front of their home crowd.