SHENZHEN (China) - Han Xu would definitely be front and center as China aim to begin another reign of dominance come the much-anticipated FIBA Asia Cup 2025 on July 13-20 in this sprawling Chinese city.
It could be recalled that Team Dragon successfully returned on top of the continent's most prestigious women's basketball event back in 2023 and the towering big herself showed the way in their redemption story.
Only 23 back then, Han bagged home Most Valuable Player honors behind per-game averages of 22.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks as she led the Chinese to a five-game sweep of the tilt in Sydney, Australia.
That included an all-out performance during the Final, wherein she finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds along with a pair of blocks in 34 minutes as they dethroned Japan by way of a thrilling 73-71 decision.
It couldn't get any sweeter for China, as they denied their long-time rivals a sixth straight crown. That win also atoned for years of heartbreak after settling for runner-up finishes thrice during that 'five-peat' run.
But of course, a lot has changed over the past two years.
With China now back in power, the focus would be on maintaining as much, but they know for a fact that it won't be easier given that seven other teams in this year's festivities are out to give them a run for their money.
The thing is, the others may not have a presence similar to that of Han.
Since the last Women's Asia Cup, the 2.05 M (6'9") center has accomplished a bevy of accolades, including winning gold in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou by beating, coincidentally, the Japanese anew.
Lest we forget that she wrote success in the club competition scene, too. Han powered Sichuan Yuande Meile to the inaugural Women's Basketball League Asia in 2024 by beating the Fujitsu Red Wave, 74-69.
There, she finished with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks for an efficiency of 26 as the Pandas completed a mighty three-game sweep of the tournament, and she went on to earn MVP honors.
That performance of hers effectively exorcised the ghost of the past, particularly the injury she sustained that affected her play - and all of Team China, of course - during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Now in full health, eyes will undeniably be on Han in the 2025 Women's Asia Cup, with fans and pundits alike looking to see if she can once again will the traditional basketball powerhouse to a back-to-back.
The last time China won gold twice in a row was in the 2009 and 2011 editions in Chennai, India and in Omura, respectively, where they beat South Korea on both occasions before Japan's unprecedented reign.
It's going to be her fourth stint in the biennial competition and this could indeed be an opportunity to cement her legacy in Chinese basketball lore if she does lead her side to a record-setting 13th championship.
In the event she wins MVP honors again, she'd become just the second player from China to win the meet's highest individual award twice after icon Miao Lijie, who's one of the 2025 Women's Asia Cup ambassadors.
There's just so much to draw motivation from in the upcoming contest for Han - not to mention that it would be held in Shenzhen - but there's zero doubt that she only wants one thing for China: the gold medal.
And it all starts with her.
FIBA
