Han Xu has transformed Perth Lynx overnight, driving a historic two-way swing since her WNBL debut.
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 ppgPoints Against: 76.1 ppgNet 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 91Fri, Dec 5 (R8): Perth 98, Southside 81Sun, Dec 14 (R9): Townsville 81, Perth 97Sun, Dec 21 (R10): Adelaide 82, Perth 109Tue, 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 offensivelyPPP: 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 defensivelyPPP 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 valuePositive PPP differential on both endsCreates spacing without sacrificing rim defenceForces opponents to choose between:Staying home on shootersLeaving her in dropSwitching 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