After playing a supporting role last year, Te-Hina Paopao emerged as a key figure for the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2023–24 season. Now, with her eligibility officially over following the Gamecocks’ 82-59 loss to No. 2 seed UConn in the national championship game, Paopao is set to take her talents to the pros via the 2025 WNBA Draft.
On Tuesday, Paopao took to Instagram to post an emotional farewell to her South Carolina teammates.
“Heart is filled with so much love and gratitude! ❤️ time to graduate from daycare 🤗😂,” she wrote.
Her teammates were quick to respond with heartfelt messages:
- Sakima Walker: “I love you 5L roomie!!!”
- Bree Hall: “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.”
- Maryam Dauda: “Awwww, so proud of you.”
- Tessa Johnson: “Love you Tehina Johnson.”
- Chloe Kitts: “1 MORE YEAR. Go be great.”
Te-Hina Paopao, who transferred from the Oregon Ducks in 2023, was a standout contributor on Dawn Staley’s undefeated SEC Tournament and national championship-winning team. This past season, she averaged 9.4 points on 44.4% shooting, including 37.0% from three-point range, along with 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Following South Carolina’s Elite Eight win over Duke, teammates Raven Johnson and Chloe Kitts praised Paopao’s basketball IQ and leadership.
“Paopao. She’s so smart,” said Johnson. “Her IQ in the game is high and I feel like she’s gonna be a great coach one day because she knows what it takes. She’s a great leader.”
Kitts added: “Te-Hina. She would make a great coach. She’s a leader and I know she don’t want to be a coach but I’d think she would make a great coach.”
Head coach Dawn Staley echoed those sentiments during a postgame press conference:
“It is a privilege to coach Pao,” Staley said. “When you have three pretty darn good point guards, like, you really can’t go wrong. She’s comfortable and there is nothing like comfort. She knows the shots that we’re setting her up for, she has met us halfway with the ability to defend, I’m really impressed with her defense and then her ability to adjust.”
As she prepares for the WNBA, Te-Hina Paopao leaves behind a decorated college career that includes two SEC Tournament titles and one national championship—cementing her legacy as one of the Gamecocks’ most impactful players.
