Te-Hina Paopao Shines Early in WNBA Career, Carrying South Carolina Pedigree to the Pros
Dawn Staley’s legacy as a developer of top-tier basketball talent continues to grow—and her former players are proving it on the professional stage. Among her latest WNBA standouts is Te-Hina Paopao, who was selected sixth in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream.
Already making an impact, Paopao impressed off the bench in Atlanta’s dominant 89–56 victory over the Washington Mystics. She racked up 16 points and five assists, finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer. Her shooting efficiency was eye-catching: 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range.
It was a breakout performance that signals her growing confidence and comfort at the next level.
Paopao is gradually carving out her role within the Dream’s rotation, and if her current momentum continues, a starting position could be within reach.
This level of poise and execution comes as no surprise to those who followed her collegiate career. As a key starter for the South Carolina Gamecocks, she helped guide the team to an NCAA championship under Coach Staley’s leadership. That same competitive edge and floor vision are now translating seamlessly into the WNBA.
She may be a rookie, but Te-Hina Paopao is already showing she belongs—and she’s just getting started.
