'Xu-per Size Me': Amy says 'I'm loving it' with Han

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Chinese international basketball star Han Xu has changed the landscape of the WNBL but Perth Lynx head coach Ryan Petrik shut down the perception — in typical head coach fashion — there wasn't still work to do be done.

Xu and the Lynx destroyed Adelaide Lightning 109-82 in Round 10 of WNBL26 in Adelaide on Sunday, December 21, 2025.

"I’m not positive that’s 100 percent accurate yet," Petrik said.

"We’re getting there. There are patches where it’s really good and patches where it’s not. That three-quarter-time box score is completely irrelevant.

"I thought we did a decent job on her tonight, but then obviously Amy got going, Chipper got going, Ally got going.

"There are a lot of pieces you’ve got to try and guard now, and because all five on the floor can shoot it, it makes it really tough to guard."

Lynx point guard Alex Ciabattoni went off. She dropped a game-high 32 points on 12-from-16 from the field while Amy Atwell had 28 points.

Atwell said Xu's presence changed the entire look of Perth's offense.

"I’m loving it," she said.

"The addition of Han, like Ryan said, gives us shooting all over the floor. It opens things up for me, Chibbas getting downhill, and it really could be anyone’s night.

"They did a really good job on Han tonight, but that opened the rest of us up. I’m loving it."

Key Details

• Result: Perth Lynx 109 def. Adelaide Lightning 82
• When: Sunday, 21st December 2025
• Where: SA State Basketball Centre, South Australia
• Standings

Perth Lynx delivered a dominant, four-quarter performance to overwhelm Adelaide Lightning 109–82, turning a competitive opening quarter into a commanding road win built on elite efficiency, paint control, and relentless pressure.

The opening term set the tone for what was an offensive showcase, with Perth edging Adelaide 31–29 in a fast-paced first quarter that featured early shot-making from both sides. Adelaide briefly threatened to control the contest behind Sania Feagin’s inside scoring and Dallas Loughridge’s perimeter shooting, but Perth’s balance and ball movement kept the scoreboard ticking.

The game swung decisively in the second quarter, where Perth exploded on both ends. The Lynx outscored Adelaide 30–17, stretching the margin to 15 by halftime. Perth’s dominance in the paint and ability to convert turnovers into points exposed Adelaide’s defensive rotations, while the Lightning struggled to generate consistent stops despite solid perimeter efficiency.

Any hopes of a second-half response were quickly extinguished. Perth maintained their composure in the third quarter, winning it 25–20, before closing emphatically in the fourth (23–16) to push the lead out to as many as 32 points. The Lynx led for 32:09 of game time and consistently punished Adelaide with second-chance opportunities and interior scoring.

Perth’s efficiency was the defining factor. The Lynx shot 65.8% on two-point attempts, finished with a 48–30 rebounding advantage, and recorded 44 points in the paint, completely controlling the physical areas of the game. Adelaide, by contrast, were forced into a high-volume perimeter approach, finishing 14–42 from three, but lacked the defensive resistance to slow Perth’s momentum.

Standout Performers

• Alex Ciabattoni led all scorers with 32 points on an ultra-efficient 12-of-16 shooting, consistently scoring at all three levels.
• Amy Atwell added 28 points, hitting from deep and attacking close-outs, while captaining the Lynx with composure.
• Anneli Maley delivered a trademark all-around performance with 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists, anchoring Perth’s physical dominance.

For Adelaide, Sania Feagin was outstanding with 29 points on strong interior efficiency, while Dallas Loughridge contributed 23 points and five made threes. However, the Lightning were unable to sustain defensive pressure or control the glass for long enough stretches.

Key Indicators

• Paint control: Perth +20 points in the paint
• Rebounding: Perth +18 overall
• Efficiency: Perth shot 109 points on 69 total field-goal attempts
• Game-breaking run: Lynx 14-point surge across the middle quarters

This was a statement road win from Perth Lynx — ruthless, balanced, and efficient. Adelaide showed offensive sparks early, but Perth’s depth, physicality, and execution across all four quarters proved overwhelming.