Paola “Pao Pao” Mejia delivered one of the most efficient performances of her young professional career, and her head coach made clear afterward that what the Atlanta Dream guard showed on the floor is only going to earn her more opportunity going forward.
In just 13 minutes of action, Mejia was virtually flawless — finishing with 9 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field while converting a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range. She added 2 rebounds and 2 assists, producing a stat line that reflected a player operating with remarkable efficiency and purpose in limited time.
Coach Karl Smesko was direct in his assessment when asked specifically about her three-point shooting and overall impact on the game.
“Yeah, she really shot it well. She’s given us a lift. She’s had some big games for us already. I think she’s grown a lot since last year,” Smesko said. “She’s definitely somebody we could have got more minutes tonight and she’s earned them. So I would expect in a couple days from now for her to even have more minutes out there, especially if she continues to play the way she is.”
That last sentence carries the most weight. A head coach publicly projecting increased minutes for a player — unprompted, immediately following a game — is not a routine coaching comment. It is a direct signal to the organization, the roster, and the player herself that her performance has moved the needle in real time.
The efficiency of Mejia’s night deserves specific attention. A 3-of-3 performance from three-point range in professional basketball, regardless of the number of attempts, reflects genuine shot selection discipline — she was not forcing attempts or hunting her shot. She was operating within the flow of the offense, reading her opportunities correctly, and converting when the moment arrived. Combined with her assist total, the performance painted the picture of a player whose basketball IQ is elevating alongside her shooting confidence.
Smesko’s observation that she has “grown a lot since last year” provides the broader developmental context. This is not a player arriving at peak form — it is a player still ascending, still finding the ceiling of what she is capable of at this level. If the trajectory holds, the Dream may have found a genuine rotation contributor whose best basketball is still ahead of her.
For now, the numbers speak clearly. Thirteen minutes. Nine points. Perfect from three. And a coach who wants to give her more.
