Te-Hina Paopao closed the chapter on her college basketball career with a tough loss to UConn in the national championship game. In the immediate aftermath, the WNBA Draft was barely on her radar.
“I have no idea,” Paopao said when asked about where she might be selected. “I’ve just been so focused on the tournament and wanting to win, but unfortunately we came up short.”
Now, the spotlight shifts. The WNBA Draft is set for Monday, April 14, in New York City, just over a week after the title game. While she won’t attend in person, Paopao will watch from her hometown of Oceanside, California, surrounded by loved ones.
“I’ll be having the draft party at home just because I want my family to be there,” she said. “I want to start with the people that have been there for the journey, for the ride. I’m just really excited for my next journey and just super proud.”
Her “offseason” will be brief. Training camp begins April 27, and the WNBA season tips off May 16. With such a fast turnaround, even Paopao joked she’s still figuring out how to prepare.
“That’s a question I should ask a coach, or a former player like Kamilla (Cardoso),” she laughed.
“But I feel like it’s just gonna be, get your mind and body right. Obviously it’s a quick turnaround, so don’t eat too much. Stay in shape, because I know training camp is going to be hard.”
Paopao wrapped up her two-year stint at South Carolina with a national championship, was a two-time All-SEC selection, and earned All-American honors in 2024. She averaged 11 points per game and led the country with a 46.8% 3-point shooting percentage.
WNBA Draft Projections:
Paopao told The State she hopes to be a first-round pick — a feat that would make her the 14th Gamecock and the 12th under head coach Dawn Staley to be selected in the first round.
Multiple outlets project her to go early:
- Yahoo Sports: No. 6 to the Washington Mystics
- USA Today & The Athletic: No. 10 to the Chicago Sky
- Sports Illustrated: No. 12 to the Dallas Wings
Wherever she lands, Paopao said her future team is getting a player who’s all-in:
“Someone who will listen, someone who will do the little things, someone who just wants to win and will do whatever it takes to win.”
If selected by Chicago, she could be reunited with Kamilla Cardoso, her former South Carolina teammate and a pillar of the team’s perfect 2024 title run. While Chicago Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca didn’t name names, he hinted at the value of bringing college teammates back together.
“It makes some sense,” Pagliocca said. “We’re always going to be looking for synergy between guards and bigs. Continuity means a lot when you’re building a team.”
Meanwhile, Dallas Wings GM Curt Miller spoke about opportunities for late first-round picks like the No. 12 spot, where Paopao is projected by Sports Illustrated.
“We intentionally created space for the 12 and 14 picks to make our opening day roster,” Miller explained. “That’s not the case around the league. But in Dallas, there’s a real shot.”
WNBA Draft Details:
- Date: Monday, April 14
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: The Shed at Hudson Yards, New York City
- Watch: ESPN / ESPN app
Gamecocks Selected in the First Round (History):
- Shaunzinski Gortman (2002)
- Jocelyn Penn (2003)
- Tiffany Mitchell (2016)
- Alaina Coates (2017)
- Allisha Gray (2017)
- Kaela Davis (2017)
- A’ja Wilson (2018)
- Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (2020)
- Tyasha Harris (2020)
- Aliyah Boston (2023)
- Laeticia Amihere (2023)
- Zia Cooke (2023)
- Kamilla Cardoso (2024)
Te-Hina Paopao may soon join this elite list.
