Yang Shuyu, Wang Siyu score 11 points each on WNBL debuts in Australia
Yang Shuyu (#10) of the Sydney Flames drives in transition in the WNBL game against the Southside Melbourne Flyers in Melbourne, Australia, October 16, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
Chinese basketball players Yang Shuyu and Wang Siyu both scored 11 points on their WNBL debuts in Australia on Friday. Yang's Sydney Flames came from behind to defeat Wang's Southside Melbourne Flyers 77-73 in the opening round of the 2026-27 season.
Yang earned a place in Sydney's starting lineup and made an immediate impact, scoring seven of her team's first 10 points. The 24-year-old converted three of her first four field-goal attempts to help the visitors establish an early advantage.
Wang, meanwhile, came off the bench for Southside Melbourne to make her first appearance in the Australian league. The experienced Chinese guard quickly made her presence felt, knocking down a three-pointer late in the opening quarter as the Flames took a narrow 26-25 lead.
The hosts seized control in the second quarter, outscoring Sydney 21-11 to establish a 46-37 halftime advantage. Southside Melbourne controlled periods of the game after the break and at one point had a 13-point-advantage which put Yang and her teammates under pressure.
Wang Siyu (#1) of the Southside Melbourne Flyers passes in the WNBL game against the Sydney Flames in Melbourne, Australia, October 16, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
However, the Flames fought back in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to four points before mounting another comeback in the final period. Led by Lauren Nicholson, who finished with a team-high 23 points, Sydney erased the deficit with just under five minutes remaining and held their nerve in the closing minutes to secure a four-point victory.
Yang finished with 11 points and two steals in just under 27 minutes on the court. She was particularly effective inside the three-point line, converting four of her five two-point attempts, although she struggled from long range.
Despite the defeat, Wang delivered a productive performance for the Flyers, scoring 11 points in 26 minutes to lead the team's bench in scoring. She also contributed three rebounds, one assist and two steals, while making two of her three attempts from beyond the arc.
The game marked an important milestone for both Chinese players as they began their first WNBL campaigns. Their performances provided an encouraging start to their overseas campaigns, with both players making meaningful contributions in a closely contested opening-round encounter.