Chinese center Han Xu has given his reaction to being chosen as the 14th overall pick by the New York Liberty, in Wednesday's WNBA Draft. The 19-year-old also mentioned that she feels that her selection demonstrates the continued development of the sport in her home country.

Han said, "I was quite satisfied with the Draft, and I feel quite lucky to be selected by the Liberty. New York is very beautiful, and it is the largest city in the U.S. I have visited many of the scenic spots, and I love this city very much. I think I am just emerging on the scene, so I should put in more effort, and keep working hard and learning modestly, to get even better."

"I feel quite honored to have a chance to play for a world class team, but I need to continue improving my skills and gradually making progress, in order to further help Chinese basketball. I also felt quite honored to take part in the WNBA Draft, as I am just starting my professional career. I felt both lucky and happy. Playing for one of the world's top teams was my childhood dream."

"My career has developed gradually in recent years and I think I've progressed a lot. I am thankful for the fruits of my hard work, and I want to express thanks for the support of the Chinese Basketball Association and the women's national team. I also think my achievement not only represents me, but also shows the image and ability of our country's basketball program," the promising hoopster from Hebei Province added.

The Liberty took Han with the second pick of the second round, making the 2.07-meter center the second Chinese player drafted into the WNBA, after Zheng Haixia in 1997. Han led China to fourth place at the Under-17 World Championship, before helping the country win gold at last summer's Asian Games. 

There were four Chinese who played in the WNBA as Han is set to become the fifth. The Los Angeles Sparks picked Zheng Haixia 16th overall in the elite phase of the inaugural WNBA Draft in 1997, after she helped China win Olympic bronze in 1984, and silver in 1992. The 6-foot-8 center played all 28 games for LA in 1997, but injuries limited her to just six a year later, leading to her retirement. Miao Lijie and Sui Feifei both signed with the Sacramento Monarchs as free agents in 2005, while Chen Nan inked a deal with the Chicago Sky in 2009.