{"id":468017,"date":"2025-12-24T03:10:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T03:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/468017\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T03:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T03:10:14","slug":"hans-solo-impact-the-force-of-xus-takeover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/468017\/","title":{"rendered":"Han&#8217;s solo impact: The force of Xu&#8217;s takeover"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Han Xu has transformed Perth Lynx overnight, driving a historic two-way swing since her WNBL debut.<\/p>\n<p>Chinese women&#8217;s basketball star Han Xu won&#8217;t win the WNBL26 MVP only because she missed the first eight games of the season.<\/p>\n<p>That honour is tracking toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball.com.au\/news\/bendigo-spirit-wnbl-profile-five-things-you-need-to-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bendigo Spirit<\/a> star and Australian Opal Isobel Borlase.<\/p>\n<p>But the reality is Xu, 26, has turned the WNBL\u00a0inside out and upside down since she first walked onto the floor on November 29, 2025 for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball.com.au\/news\/perth-lynx-wnbl-profile-five-things-you-need-to-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Perth Lynx<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The 2.11m former WNBA\u00a0centre has changed the shape of the game and every WNBL\u00a0scout already. <\/p>\n<p>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 <strong>25.8 ppg swing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Pre-Xu (Rounds 1\u20136)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Games:<\/strong> 8<br \/><strong>Record:<\/strong> 5\u20133<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><strong>Points For:<\/strong> <strong>72.5 ppg<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Points Against:<\/strong> <strong>76.1 ppg<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Net Rating (raw):<\/strong> <strong>\u20133.6 ppg<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Profile:<\/strong> Competitive. Perth were winning games, but doing it with a <strong>negative scoring margin<\/strong>, driven by offensive stagnation and matchup sensitivity.<\/p>\n<p>This was a <strong>good team but with structural limits<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Xu debut and after (from Nov 29)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Perth Lynx with Xu<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><strong>Sat, Nov 29 (R7):<\/strong> Canberra 67, Perth 91<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fri, Dec 5 (R8):<\/strong> Perth 98, Southside 81<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sun, Dec 14 (R9):<\/strong> Townsville 81, Perth 97<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sun, Dec 21 (R10):<\/strong> Adelaide 82, Perth 109<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tue, Dec 23 (R10):<\/strong> Perth 75, Canberra 49<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Record:<\/strong> <strong>5\u20130<\/strong><br \/><strong>Average margin:<\/strong> <strong>+22.2<\/strong><br \/><strong>Opponents held \u226470 points:<\/strong> 3 of 5<\/p>\n<p><strong>Han Xu WNBL26 Season Averages<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GP:<\/strong> 5 \u2502 <strong>MIN:<\/strong> 28.3 \u2502<strong> PTS:<\/strong> 17.8 \u2502 <strong>REB:<\/strong> 7.0 \u2502 <strong>AST:<\/strong> 1.2 \u2502 <strong>STL:<\/strong> 1.2 \u2502 <strong>BLK:<\/strong> 2.4 \u2502<strong> FG:<\/strong> 36\u201368 (52.9%) \u2502<strong> 3PT:<\/strong> 7\u201320 (35.0%) \u2502<strong> FT:<\/strong> 10\u201314 (71.4%) \u2502<strong> TO:<\/strong> 3.0 \u2502 <strong>PF:<\/strong> 1.8<\/p>\n<p>This is not noise. It\u2019s a <strong>step-change<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The box score will show Han hasn&#8217;t top scored for the Lynx in the past two wins. Point guard Alex Ciabattoni <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball.com.au\/news\/perth-lynx-han-xu-impact-adelaide-lightning-round-10-wnbl26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">went off against Adelaide in their 109-82 demolition<\/a>. She dropped a game-high 32 points on 12-from-16 from the field while Amy Atwell had 28 points.<\/p>\n<p>Atwell backed that up with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball.com.au\/news\/perth-lynx-crush-uc-capitals-round-10-wnbl26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">28 points against the UC Capitals<\/a> on Tuesday, December 23. Anneli Maley tipped in 16 points and 21 rebounds in the 75-49 route.<\/p>\n<p>But box scores don&#8217;t tell the whole story, even though Xu put up 11 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks against Canberra.<\/p>\n<p>Perth signed Brianna Turner at the start of the season in preparation for Xu&#8217;s arrival. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball.com.au\/news\/han-xu-arrival-perth-wnbl26-brianna-turner-stand-in-ryan-petrik\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Perth head coach Ryan Petrik said Turner was fitting her role<\/a> into the role they wanted Xu to play. <\/p>\n<p>The upgrade has been nothing short of elite.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/694b4dbc578b0782dedde721_Comparison.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\"\/>Where Han Xu sits offensively<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><strong>PPP:<\/strong> 1.01 (solid, not inflated)<\/li>\n<li><strong>2FG%:<\/strong> 63.0% (elite)<\/li>\n<li><strong>3PA\/FGA:<\/strong> 30.3% (outlier for a centre)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pts:<\/strong> 17.8 on controlled usage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Interpretation:<\/strong> Han Xu isn\u2019t just finishing \u2013 she\u2019s forcing defensive decisions. Few centres in the league combine elite rim efficiency and credible pick-and-pop range.<\/p>\n<p>Han Xu defensively<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><strong>PPP allowed:<\/strong> 0.79 (excellent)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Score% allowed:<\/strong> 33.3%<\/li>\n<li><strong>2FG% allowed:<\/strong> 42.9%<\/li>\n<li><strong>Defensive rank:<\/strong> lower due to <strong>the amount of games<\/strong>, not effect<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Interpretation:<\/strong> Han Xu is not switching everything \u2013 but <strong>in drops and at the rim<\/strong>, opponents are significantly less efficient.<\/p>\n<p>Han Xu\u2019s combined value<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li>Positive PPP differential on <strong>both ends<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Creates spacing without sacrificing rim defence<\/li>\n<li>Forces opponents to choose between:\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li>Staying home on shooters<\/li>\n<li>Leaving her in drop<\/li>\n<li>Switching smaller defenders (bad outcome)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>She sits in the <strong>rarest archetype in the league<\/strong>. And this is why Atwell, Ciabattoni and Maley are destroying box scores.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Perth fired a pretty significant warning shot, beating the Townsville\u00a0Fire 97-81 in Townsville in Xu&#8217;s third game. The Lynx face last-placed Geelong (3-11)\u00a0at home on December 28 and then (4-9) Adelaide Lightning on January 2, 2026 before getting Canberra again on January 4, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, Xu and the Lynx are top of Hayley Wildes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball.com.au\/news\/wnbl-power-rankings-2025-2026-season\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WNBL Power Rankings<\/a> and the rest of the league are on notice.<\/p>\n<p>Xu is the real deal.<\/p>\n<p>Han Xu WNBL26 Box Scores<\/p>\n<p><strong>vs Canberra Capitals<\/strong> \u2014 Dec 23, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>MIN:<\/strong> 25 \u2502 <strong>PTS:<\/strong> 11 \u2502 <strong>REB:<\/strong> 8 \u2502 <strong>AST:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>STL:<\/strong> 0 \u2502 <strong>BLK:<\/strong> 4 \u2502 <strong>FG:<\/strong> 5\u201311 (45.5%) \u2502 <strong>3PT:<\/strong> 1\u20135 (20.0%) \u2502 <strong>FT:<\/strong> 0\u20130 \u2502 <strong>TO:<\/strong> 4 \u2502 <strong>PF:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n<p><strong>vs Adelaide Lightning<\/strong> \u2014 Dec 21, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>MIN:<\/strong> 29 \u2502 <strong>PTS:<\/strong> 9 \u2502 <strong>REB:<\/strong> 7 \u2502 <strong>AST:<\/strong> 2 \u2502 <strong>STL:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>BLK:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>FG:<\/strong> 4\u201311 (36.4%) \u2502 <strong>3PT:<\/strong> 1\u20133 (33.3%) \u2502 <strong>FT:<\/strong> 0\u20130 \u2502 <strong>TO:<\/strong> 3 \u2502 <strong>PF:<\/strong> 3<\/p>\n<p><strong>vs Townsville Fire<\/strong> \u2014 Dec 14, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>MIN:<\/strong> 32 \u2502 <strong>PTS:<\/strong> 28 \u2502 <strong>REB:<\/strong> 13 \u2502 <strong>AST:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>STL:<\/strong> 2 \u2502 <strong>BLK:<\/strong> 4 \u2502 <strong>FG:<\/strong> 11\u201321 (52.4%) \u2502 <strong>3PT:<\/strong> 2\u20135 (40.0%) \u2502 <strong>FT:<\/strong> 4\u20136 (66.7%) \u2502 <strong>TO:<\/strong> 3 \u2502 <strong>PF:<\/strong> 1<\/p>\n<p><strong>vs Southside Flyers<\/strong> \u2014 Dec 5, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>MIN:<\/strong> 25 \u2502 <strong>PTS:<\/strong> 19 \u2502 <strong>REB:<\/strong> 3 \u2502 <strong>AST:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>STL:<\/strong> 2 \u2502 <strong>BLK:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>FG:<\/strong> 6\u201313 (46.2%) \u2502 <strong>3PT:<\/strong> 2\u20134 (50.0%) \u2502 <strong>FT:<\/strong> 5\u20136 (83.3%) \u2502 <strong>TO:<\/strong> 2 \u2502 <strong>PF:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n<p><strong>vs Canberra Capitals<\/strong> \u2014 Nov 29, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>MIN:<\/strong> 28 \u2502 <strong>PTS:<\/strong> 22 \u2502 <strong>REB:<\/strong> 4 \u2502 <strong>AST:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>STL:<\/strong> 1 \u2502 <strong>BLK:<\/strong> 2 \u2502 <strong>FG:<\/strong> 10\u201312 (83.3%) \u2502 <strong>3PT:<\/strong> 1\u20133 (33.3%) \u2502 <strong>FT:<\/strong> 1\u20132 (50.0%) \u2502 <strong>TO:<\/strong> 3 \u2502 <strong>PF:<\/strong> 1<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Han Xu has transformed Perth Lynx overnight, driving a historic two-way swing since her WNBL debut. Chinese women&#8217;s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":468018,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[62,67,132,68,232],"class_list":{"0":"post-468017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-sports","9":"tag-united-states","10":"tag-unitedstates","11":"tag-us","12":"tag-wnba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115772354396011028","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}