‘Unique piece’: Lynx adds 211cm superstar to squad
Sebastian Tan |
Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik feels his side has added a “unique piece” to their roster after signing 211-centimetre Chinese superstar Han Xu.
But Petrik knows there are going to be challenges in dealing with the giant when she lands in town.
The Chinese international has been scooped up by the Lynx days before the WNBL season is set to get underway.
But her resume is one that is worth the wait.
She was chosen as the 14th overall pick by the New York Liberty in the 2019 WNBA draft, won gold at the 2023 FIBA Asian Cup where she was named tournament MVP, and earned a silver medal at the 2022 Women’s World Cup.
In China, Han has also won the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association MVP twice and is a back-to-back league champion.
Han’s resume is one that has impressed Petrik for a while.
“We’ve been in previous years, but clearly this year, it was much more of a chance,” Petrik told AAP.
“She’s just such a unique piece at that size, and the way she can move for that size, and the fact she can shoot it for that size, and she moves really well for that length.
“Normally, players don’t move as well as that, or shoot as well as that in that build.
“She can guard the rim for us and she can help us rebound, but at the other end of the floor, she can do some really unique things for us.”
Petrik said Han wouldn’t likely feature for Perth until round nine, as she is featuring in the Chinese National Games first.
He admitted the process to acquire Han required a lot of “moving parts” due to scheduling clashes.
Although Petrik has conducted as much research as he can, he said “time will tell” on whether she will be able to settle into the side.
“The challenge here is the fact that she’ll come in season. Normally, imports at least get two or three weeks with the team before they start,” the coach said.
“She’s going to hit the ground and get one or two training sessions and then have to play.
“We expect the start to be interesting as we learn to adapt to her and she adapts to us. But clearly, hopefully, come February and January, it’s a lot better.”
The Lynx’s roster is also now complete with other stars including Opals guard Ally Wilson and 3×3 Olympian Anneli Maley.
But Petrik is not getting ahead of himself, saying that although Han increases the Lynx’s chances of winning, the signing doesn’t mean Perth will bring a WNBL title to the city for the first time since 1992.
“The Townsville team is so stacked, it’s not funny. They are mega loaded,” he said.
“Every team can win it, but Townsville is now the favourite and all the pressure is on them.”
Perth will start their WNBL campaign against the Adelaide Lightning on Sunday.
AAP
