'Xu in': Are Perth on verge of signing Chinese star?

• ‍Young veteran Jade Melbourne ready to take UC Capitals back to promise land‍
• WNBL championship or bust for Townsville Fire in WNBL26?‍
• 2025-26 WNBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker

The Perth Lynx are on the verge of one of the biggest signings in WNBL history – both literally and figuratively – with speculation intensify the club is in detailed negotiations with Chinese WNBA veteran Han Xu.

Han Xu, 25, is 6 ft 9.5 in or 2.07m. She said at the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup in July: "If there are opportunities overseas, I will do everything I can to seize them."

basketball.com.au has contacted Perth Lynx for comment but it would be an absolute coup signature of a player who has averaged 17 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks (per 36 minutes) in 58 games in the WNBA. Perth is yet to respond.

Han Xu (pronounced \shoo\) played for the New York Liberty from 2019 to 2023 after being drafted in 2019. She didn't play in the WNBA or in another international domestic league last year to prepare with the Chinese national team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Han Xu remained in China this year to rehab a back injury.

basketball.com.au WNBL expert Hayley Wildes first revealed the potential signing while at the Townsville Tip-Off last month.

Wildes wrote: "In a positive for Lynx fans, I did hear rumblings throughout the weekend they possibly do have an import big on their way at some point in the season. And let me just say, she has been a massive presence across the Asian region in recent times."

Perth's first game of WNBL26 is against Adelaide in Adelaide on Sunday, October 19.

Han Xu spoke at a press conference during the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup in July about her preparation, injury setbacks and why she decided to stay in China instead of chasing a role in the WNBA. Her response been translated from Chinese to English.

"First of all, this question has been an important part of my own growth — I feel it has given me a lot in terms of development," she said.

"So, even with setbacks or difficulties, they’ve actually played a role in shaping me.

"In reality, my choice was simply to follow the treatment path with traditional Chinese medicine. Over the past two years, I haven’t participated in overseas club opportunities.

The first reason was to better prepare for the 2024 World Cup. The second was to better prepare for the 2027 Paris Olympics.

"I stayed and trained with the national team for a long time, then played in the Barcelona tournament, and afterward went with the team to Paris for official warm-up matches.

"During this period, although I gave up the chance to play abroad, I felt it was more important to spend time blending with my national teammates — building chemistry and cohesion — so that I could better help the team achieve good results at the World Cup, the Olympics, and other competitions.

"This year as well, I voluntarily chose to remain in China to play in the Asian Cup.

"It allowed me to compete while also adjusting my physical condition, because last year I had some lower-back injuries. I’ve been working hard on recovery.

"Of course, during this time there was a lot of public criticism directed at me, but I believe that now I’ve found my own path and I’m determined to walk it."

Han Xu – Fact File (Per 36 Minutes)

Pronunciation: \shoo\
Instagram: @hanxu_521

Position: Center │ Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’10” (208 cm) │ 193 lb (87 kg)
Born: October 31, 1999 (Age 25) in Shijiazhuang, China 🇨🇳
Draft: 2019 WNBA Draft – Round 2, Pick 14 (New York Liberty)
Jersey: #21

Per 36 Minutes – Regular Season

2019 (NY Liberty, Age 19)

• PTS: 13.6 │ REB: 3.8 │ AST: 0.5 │ BLK: 1.0
• FG%: 41.4 │ 3P%: 50.0 │ FT%: 50.0

2022 (NY Liberty, Age 22)

• PTS: 18.3 │ REB: 7.7 │ AST: 2.0 │ BLK: 1.4
• FG%: 49.3 │ 3P%: 44.4 │ FT%: 79.6

2023 (NY Liberty, Age 23)

• PTS: 12.0 │ REB: 7.0 │ AST: 0.0 │ BLK: 1.0
• FG%: 30.0 │ 3P%: 0.0 │ FT%: —

Career (58 GP)

• PTS: 17.0 │ REB: 6.9 │ AST: 1.6 │ BLK: 1.3
• FG%: 46.5 │ 3P%: 39.6 │ FT%: 78.4