Han Xu Becomes Top Asian Scorer in WNBA History

Chinese basketball star Han Xu has become the highest-scoring Asian player in WNBA history, reaching 518 career points during the New York Liberty’s 95-83 home victory over the Seattle Storm on August 3. The 26-year-old center surpassed Japan’s Ramu Tokashiki, who previously held the record with 517 points, according to Xinhua News.

A Milestone Built on Consistency

Han scored 6 points in the contest, playing 18 minutes and 21 seconds as a reserve. She shot 50 percent from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, while adding 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block with a +4 plus/minus rating. The performance came just two days after she scored a season-high 17 points against the Phoenix Mercury, breaking the 500-point career scoring mark in the process, as China.org.cn reported.

The achievement is the culmination of a career that began when Han was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the Liberty. Now in her fourth WNBA season, she is averaging 5.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

“Congratulations to myself for reaching 500 points in the WNBA league,” Han wrote on social media, as reported by QTX Sports. “This is something to be happy about, but I also need to persevere. Keep working hard and everything will become smoother!”

A Growing Chinese Presence in the WNBA

Han’s record-setting achievement highlights China’s deepening footprint in the world’s premier women’s basketball league. Fellow Chinese player Li Yueru, currently with the Dallas Wings, ranks third on the all-time Asian scoring list with 483 points. Basketball legend Zheng Haixia, the first Asian player in the WNBA when she joined the Los Angeles Sparks in 1997, ranks fourth with 304 points, while Li Meng sits sixth with 190 points.

According to China Daily, Han’s international career has been equally distinguished. She helped China claim silver at the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five. A year later, she was named MVP as China won the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.

Her success extends beyond the WNBA. During the 2025-26 season, Han played for the Perth Lynx in Australia’s WNBL, averaging 16.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 18 games. She earned the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award and a spot on the All-WNBL Second Team.

A Celebrated Night in Brooklyn

The milestone game drew notable attention beyond the basketball court. After the Liberty’s victory, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the team’s locker room to offer congratulations, accompanied by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who helped lead the celebration. Han was photographed with Clinton during the historic night, as NetEase reported.

On the court, the Liberty’s victory was powered by Breanna Stewart’s 24 points, with Jonquel Jones adding 20 and Sabrina Ionescu contributing 18. The team opened the game with a 24-7 run and withstood a Seattle comeback attempt in the third quarter before closing strong.

What’s Next for Han Xu

Han’s achievement comes at a pivotal moment in her career. Following the conclusion of the WNBA regular season, she is expected to represent China at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin in September. After completing her national-team duties, she will join the Geelong Venom for the 2026-27 WNBL season, which tips off on October 15.

Han has spoken about her desire to pave the way for future generations of Chinese basketball players. “I hope my experience can serve as a signpost for those who come after me,” she wrote on social media earlier this year. “One day, someone will follow in my footsteps and arrive here.”

With four Chinese players now committed to WNBL clubs for the upcoming season and Han’s continued success in the WNBA, that pathway is already becoming more crowded. Her record-setting achievement in the WNBA is not just a personal milestone — it is a marker of Chinese women’s basketball’s growing presence on the international stage.