00:04For almost a decade, Han Zhu has been a dominant presence for China at the heart of all of her
00:10nation's major successes. She led her side to silver at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup in
00:19Sydney, earning a place in the All-Star Five before turning in a tournament MVP performance
00:25at the following year's Women's Asia Cup, as China won its first gold since 2011.
00:34Having taken silver at the same event in 2021, last year she completed the set with a bronze
00:40medal and another All-Star Five nod. Now Han is back in Australia, signing with the Perth
00:50Lynx of the WNBL last year, and she's made an immediate impact.
00:55A couple of hot fakes, and that was clinical.
00:58She has reshaped Perth's offense with her size and touch, opening the floor for the Lynx's
01:04perimeter scores and providing a threat from deep herself, while her work at the other end
01:09saw her named Defensive Player of the Year.
01:15But though Han is focused on the business end of the WNBL season, she will also have one
01:20eye on next month's FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 qualifying tournaments, with China hosting
01:27one of the events in Wuhan.
01:34The Chinese tip-off on March 11 against Mali, before facing Belgium, who have already qualified
01:40as Hero Basket Champion. That's followed by clashes against South Sudan, Czechia, and Brazil,
01:47with the top three teams, along with Belgium, advancing to the World Cup in Germany this September.
01:55Han will again be key to the hopes of a squad that could also feature fellow center Li Yu-Ru,
02:02sharp-shooting wing Li Meng, and rising star Zhang Ziyu.
02:09And China will be among the favorites to not just qualify, but come September, make a deep run in Germany.
02:20For all the latest on the road to the FIBA Women's World Cup,
02:232026, head to FIBA.Basketball.
02:30Han and the Lynx were in action against the Sydney Flames on the final day of the WNBL regular season.
02:36Han Shue gets that to fall, and draws the foul on Unique Thompson.
02:42Han was in good touch from both inside and out.
02:51And Amy Atwell continued to pile on the paint.
02:56Atwell at the other end hits the three.
02:59Agnes Eminopu tried to bring Sydney back into the contest.
03:03Agnes Eminopu puts it on the floor again, gets inside.
03:06Agnes Eminopu is having herself a night.
03:08But Perth closed it out with Annalie Maylee doing it all.
03:13Maylee for three.
03:16Annalie Maylee.
03:18Finishing with a triple-double as the Lynx rolled into the postseason in style.
03:23And the Perth Lynx heading into the postseason, absolutely brimming with confidence.
03:28A triple-double for Annalie Maylee.
03:31They got everything they needed tonight, the Lynx.
03:33Beawas.
03:33Any case.
03:33Anycaster now.
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