MIES (Switzerland) - One of the most distinctive, talented and popular players in the women's global game, China standout Xu Han has been racking up plenty of medals and individual accolades during the past few years.
Ever since turning heads as a rising star at youth level, including at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup, the center has lived up to that early hype by taking the senior international stage by storm.
And, not just for China either. Recently, the 24-years-old was crowned MVP of the first ever FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia after taking Sichuan Yuanda Meile Basketball Club to the inaugural title.
Han was typically unstoppable at times and very much at the heart of a pulsating 74-69 victory over the Fujitsu Red Wave as she led the Pandas with 24 points to wow over 8,000 fans in Chengdu.
Her performance also laid to rest the ghost of what was an injury affected time at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 when she was not able to hit her very highest gear.
Certainly not at the level of the fantastic work she showed globally two years ago, when she led China to their joint-best finish at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
Han was superb as her nation took the runners-up spot in Sydney and the adulation she received from the crazy impressive number of Chinese fans cemented her status as one of the sport's newest superstars.
Returning to the same Australian city last year, nobody could live with her exploits as she took TISSOT MVP honors at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023. As headline act, she propelled China to their first piece of silverware in a decade in the competition. Her performances were absolutely awesome.
Having waited so long to belatedly climb to the top of the podium at the Continental level, can Han help China claim a repeat in 2025? The motivation will be huge and not least because they will defend their cherished crown on home soil in Shenzen.
The reception that the center will receive from the China fans will be exceptional and potentially overwhelming. But Han now has that experience to shoulder the responsibility and be the baller that delivers back-to-back titles.
Shining brightly is what Xu Han does.
Then there's also the significant allure of what will be an amazing FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin. When the tournament tips-off, Han will still only be 26-years-old a poster player of the biggest competition in the women's global game.
And, it's an exciting and genuinely mind-blowing prospect that Han is probably not even close to peaking just yet. That could come in the German capital and if she does, expect to see China standing back on the podium steps once again.
FIBA