Seven Years In, Liberty Center Han Xu Is a Different Player and a Cornerstone of New York's Roster

From 14th Pick to Cornerstone

The New York Liberty selected Han Xu with the 14th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She was 19 years old, had traveled nearly 7,000 miles from China, and walked into a professional locker room where she barely spoke the language. By any measure, that is a hard starting point.

Seven years later, the picture looks completely different.

According to the New York Post, Han has grown two inches since her rookie season and now stands at 6-foot-11, making her one of the tallest players in the WNBA. She is 26, physically stronger, and described by teammates and coaches as noticeably more confident and, in the words of those around her, "playful" in a way that simply was not visible when she first arrived.

What Rebecca Allen Saw in 2019

Liberty veteran Rebecca Allen was one of the first teammates Han encountered when she came to New York. Allen was there for those early, uncertain days, a teenager in a foreign country navigating a professional sports environment with no real personal support network nearby.

The two were separated for stretches of Han's career. They are now back together on the 2026 Liberty roster, and Allen's vantage point across that seven-year gap makes her a credible witness to how much Han has changed. The NY Post characterizes the growth as both literal and figurative, with Allen's reunion context framing just how far Han has come.

On the Court in 2026

Han has been active and visible through the Liberty's early 2026 schedule. She was on the floor during New York's win over the Mercury at Barclays Center on May 29, a game against the Dream on June 11, and the Liberty's road game in Connecticut on June 8, where head coach Chris DeMarco was shown giving her direct coaching attention during the contest, according to the NY Post.

The Liberty also played the Mystics at Barclays Center on June 19, though that game ended in a loss for New York.

The Strongest Counterpoint

The fair skepticism here is whether Han Xu's development narrative is, at this stage, more profile than production. Seven years is a long time. A player who arrived as a raw teenage project should, by 26, be delivering statistically. Reporters and fans are right to ask whether the "more confident" framing translates to consistent impact minutes, meaningful defensive anchoring, and offensive production when the Liberty need it, not just positive locker-room energy. The NY Post's piece is largely anecdotal and built around teammate impressions rather than box scores, so that question remains genuinely open based on what is sourced here.

Physical development this late in a player's career, adding two inches of height and significant strength in your mid-20s, is unusual and noteworthy. It changes what a player can do on both ends.

The Broader Liberty Picture

New York's 2026 roster is built around star power. Breanna Stewart remains the centerpiece of the offense, as confirmed by her appearance in the NY Post's sourcing from the June 19 Mystics game. Marine Johannès is currently holding a starting lineup spot, per the Post.

Han's role fits into a deeper, more experienced roster than the one she joined in 2019. The question going forward is whether she can sustain and build on whatever form she has shown through the first weeks of the season, particularly with a Liberty team that has real title ambitions this year.

How much DeMarco leans on Han in high-leverage situations, and whether her physical development translates to crunch-time production, is the specific unresolved question the 2026 season will answer.