00:06For almost a decade,
00:07Han Zhu has been a dominant presence for China
00:10at the heart of all of her nation's major successes.
00:14Oh, my goodness, Cyborg!
00:17She led her side to silver
00:18at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney,
00:22earning a place in the All-Star Five
00:24before turning in a tournament MVP performance
00:27at the following year's Women's Asia Cup
00:29as China won its first gold since 2011.
00:36Having taken silver at the same event in 2021,
00:39last year she completed the set with a bronze medal
00:42and another All-Star Five nod.
00:48Now Han is back in Australia,
00:50signing with the Perth Lynx of the WNBL last year,
00:54and she's made an immediate impact.
00:56A couple of pop bikes, and that was clinical.
01:00She has reshaped Perth's offense with her size and touch,
01:04opening the floor for the Lynx's perimeter scores
01:06and providing a threat from deep herself,
01:09while her work at the other end
01:11saw her named Defensive Player of the Year.
01:14Anshu ahead and blocked out of bounds.
01:16But though Han is focused on the business end of the WNBL season,
01:21she will also have one eye on next month's FIBA Women's World Cup
01:252026 qualifying tournaments,
01:28with China hosting one of the events in Wuhan.
01:35The Chinese tip-off on March 11 against Mali before facing Belgium,
01:40who have already qualified as hero basket champion.
01:44That's followed by clashes against South Sudan,
01:47Czechia, and Brazil,
01:49with the top three teams, along with Belgium,
01:52advancing to the World Cup in Germany this September.
01:57Han will again be key to the hopes of a squad
02:00that could also feature fellow center Li Yu-Ru,
02:03sharpshooting wing Li Meng,
02:05and rising star Zhang Ziyu.
02:10And China will be among the favorites to not just qualify,
02:14but come September, make a deep run in Germany.
02:18Han, eventually that's got the finish.
02:21For all the latest on the road to the FIBA Women's World Cup 2026,
02:26head to FIBA.Basketball.
02:32Han and the Lynx were in action against the Sydney Flames
02:35on the final day of the WNBL regular season.
02:38Han Shue gets that to fall,
02:40and draws the foul on Yannick Thompson.
02:44Han was in good touch from both inside and out.
02:48Banks open for Han Shue.
02:50Bank is certainly open.
02:52And Amy Atwell continued to pile on the pain.
02:56At the same time.
02:57Atwell at the other end hits the three.
03:00Agnes Emanopu tried to bring Sydney back into the contest.
03:04And Anopu puts it on the floor again.
03:06Gets inside.
03:08Agnes Emanopu's having herself a night.
03:11But Perth closed it out with Annalie Maylee doing it all.
03:15Maylee for three.
03:17Annalie Maylee.
03:19Finishing with a triple-double
03:21as the Lynx rolled into the postseason in style.
03:25And the Perth Lynx heading into the postseason,
03:27absolutely brimming with confidence.
03:30A triple-double for Annalie Maylee.
03:32They got everything they needed tonight, the Lynx.
03:36Perth finished the season in second position
03:38with an 18-5 record,
03:40a game behind the Townsville Fire.
03:43The reigning champion Bendigo Spirit took third,
03:45with the Southside Flyers also moving through to the playoffs.
03:49taking a close.
03:49with theihuacan and theδώks.
03:50People will
Comments