6'11" Chinese Star Doubles Perth Basketball Attendance

When 6'11" center Han Xu arrived at Perth Lynx eight games into the season, the team was sitting at a modest 5-3 record. What happened next transformed Australian women's basketball.

Perth has won 15 of their last 17 matches and now stands on the brink of ending a 34-year championship drought. The team's average margin of victory jumped from losing by 3.6 points to winning by 16 points since Xu stepped on the court.

But the numbers off the court tell an even bigger story. Membership jumped 60 percent from last year, attendance doubled, and 600 tickets sold to the Chinese community for her debut game alone. One-third of all Perth Lynx jersey sales this season feature Xu's name on the back.

The 211-centimeter player brings experience from the WNBA, China's WCBA league, and the Chinese national team. Her coach Ryan Petrik says watching her move is surreal. "Han is 6'11 and she moves like someone who's 6'2, 6'3," he explains.

Xu's presence creates what Petrik calls a "gravitational pull" that opens up the entire offense. All five defenders watch her every move, giving teammates more open shooting opportunities than any other team in the competition.

The Ripple Effect

Her impact extends far beyond Perth's win column. After a recent game against Melbourne-based Southside Flyers, fans rushed the court trying to reach Xu. Security had to escort her to a separate area and organize an orderly line while her team tried to complete their post-game debrief.

Young Asian-Australian girls are showing up to games wearing her jersey and bringing their families. General manager Chris Earle says the team hoped for this kind of impact when signing an international all-star, but seeing it unfold has exceeded expectations.

Xu stays grounded despite the attention. She appreciates fans who ask politely for photos but values her personal space when shopping. She came to Australia seeking physical, aggressive defense to challenge herself and improve her game.

Her real goal is inspiring the next generation. "I saw a lot of women and girls liked my jerseys and they come to watch my games," Xu says. "I hope basketball can be better and better, especially Asian basketball, so I try my best to play hard so more people see."

Perth faces Townsville in a best-of-three grand final series starting Thursday, with one talented center determined to leave Australia having changed the game for young players watching from the stands.