Han Xu scores 19 points in her first WNBA game

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01:33

In the WNBA, Chinese Center Han Xu started life on the court for the New York Liberty against her own Chinese national team. The 19-year-old scored a game-high 19 points as her side came out on top 89-71 in the pre-season exhibition contest.

She began well and got New York on the board in the first half with a jumper. Trailing 42 to 36 at halftime, Han connected for an alley-oop, sparking the side into life as they scored 25 points in the third quarter.

The rookie added a couple to her game-high tally in the fourth quarter, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and leading the team with more than 21 minutes played. And New York won 89-71.

China was backed by Li Meng's 15 points and five assists. Li Yueru and Wang Xuemeng also scored double figures, adding 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Han was selected by New York Liberty in the second round, the 14th pick overall of the WNBA draft 2019. She became the second Chinese female basketball drafted in the WNBA, following Zheng Haixia, also a center, who was picked by the Los Angeles Sparks in the second round in the inaugural draft on February 27, 1997.

“There's a lot of hope that she could represent the players from China and do well here." The new owner of the New York Liberty, Joe Tsai said, “For a young person, that's not very easy. I think when Yao was here he experienced almost the same kind of responsibility if you will."