WNBA drafts Chinese star Han, 19

As a teen-age basketball phenom, Han Xu is about to embark on a life-defining journey, after becoming the first Chinese player drafted into the Women's National Basketball Association in over 20 years.

The New York Liberty selected Han, a 6-foot-9 center, with the team's second-round pick in the WNBA draft on April 10. In 2018 Han began her first Women's Chinese Basketball Association season with the Xinjiang Tianshan Magic Deer, averaging 15.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

Han is eager to compete against the best women players in the world and represent China. Being drafted "speeds up our integration" with the world's high-level basketball talent, noted Han.

"I can also bring what I learn back to China. Playing in the WNBA means that I can also encourage younger generations to love basketball," she said.

Han is thrilled to join the Liberty. "I was very excited and happy because I love New York City very much," she said. "I also like the color of the Liberty's jersey. Tina Charles is a friend that I met during WCBA (Women's Chinese Basketball Association) and is also with the Liberty. I like her basketball style very much. She said she was going to teach me some moves and now we can finally play together."

Playing in New York will also enable Han to experience the city's large and diverse Chinese population. "I have learned that New York City is the biggest city in the US. There are also many Chinatowns in the city, and many of my Chinese 'relatives' are here. I am very happy to play with the Liberty. I think the diversity will help me a lot."

Katie Smith, coach of the Liberty, said she looks forward to working with Han and introducing her to the team and the league.

"She is a skilled player who can finish left- and right-handed and can shoot the ball," Smith said. "She moves well for her size and can keep people in front of her with her length."

Smith said there will be a learning curve for Han because of the physicality of the WNBA. "She will get stronger and figure out how to play against stronger people," said Smith.

Han's English is limited but Smith doesn't anticipate that being a major problem. "Lots of players have played overseas where English is limited. When things are important, someone translates for you," Smith said.

"My vocabulary about basketball is not bad," noted Han. "I am brave enough to communicate and talk with my teammates. I don't think it's a problem as long as I am confident to speak up, to yell and to communicate."

Just 19 years old, Han will have to adjust to a new lifestyle in a foreign country while competing against the best women players in the world. Smith thinks she can handle the challenge.

"She wants to learn and be a part of it and that is half the battle," said Smith. "Even college kids who played NCAA ball have an adjustment to the physicality and the grind" of the WNBA.

"I think I am ready for it. I have been prepared ever since I signed up for the draft," added Han.

Han said her parents were supportive of her decision to play in the WNBA and "even burst into tears while watching (the draft) live on that day."

Han said NBA great and China native Yao Ming was a childhood idol. She will be playing against some familiar faces when the Liberty squares off against the Chinese National Women's team on May 9 in Brooklyn.

She is the league's first Chinese draftee since the Los Angeles Sparks selected 6-foot-8 center Zheng Haixia in 1997, two-and-a-half years before Han was born in Shijiazhuang, the capital and largest city of China's Hebei province. She also becomes the fifth Chinese athlete to play in the WNBA after Zheng, Miao Lijie, Sui Feifei and Chen Nan.