South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao Named WBCA All-America Finalist for Second Straight Season
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Te-Hina Paopao, a senior standout for South Carolina women’s basketball, has once again been recognized among the nation’s elite, earning a spot as a finalist for the WBCA Coaches’ All-America Team, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today. This marks her second consecutive season receiving this honor.
A crucial leader for the Gamecocks, Paopao has been a stabilizing force, particularly at the start of the season, guiding the team with her court vision and leadership as they solidified their status as a frontrunner for both SEC and NCAA championships. She is averaging 9.7 points per game, increasing to 10.5 points per game against ranked opponents, where she has displayed efficiency with a 46.6% field goal percentage.
Beyond her scoring, Paopao leads the team in distribution with 2.9 assists per game, a number that climbs to 3.44 per game in SEC matchups, ranking her 12th in the conference. Her growth this season extends beyond playmaking—she has expanded her offensive arsenal, moving away from a heavy reliance on 3-point shooting. Compared to last season, when 64.1% of her points came from beyond the arc, she has now diversified her scoring: 49.4% from three, 33.5% in the paint, and 9.5% from midrange.
Currently ranked No. 2/2, South Carolina continues its dominant postseason run after securing the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Birmingham 2 Regional. With two convincing victories at Colonial Life Arena, the Gamecocks have advanced to their 11th straight NCAA Sweet 16. Next up, they face No. 18/17 Maryland on Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m. ET.
For the latest updates on South Carolina women’s basketball, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow @GamecockWBB on social media.
WBCA All-America Finalists
The list of WBCA Coaches’ All-America Team finalists includes some of the top talents in college basketball:
- Paige Bueckers (UConn)
- JuJu Watkins (Southern Cal)
- Mikaylah Williams (LSU)
- Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame)
- Te-Hina Paopao (South Carolina)
- Madison Booker (Texas)
- Flau’Jae Johnson (LSU)
- Rori Harmon (Texas)
- Olivia Miles (Notre Dame)
- Kiki Rice (UCLA)
- And many more top players.
Stay tuned as Paopao and the Gamecocks continue their pursuit of championship glory!
