🔥 From Columbia to the professional spotlight!
Te-Hina Paopao has wasted no time making her mark in her debut season with the Atlanta Dream, delivering a near-faultless performance that has left fans buzzing with excitement. 👀 Widely anticipated to thrive at the professional level, the former South Carolina star has lived up to the hype with a standout game, showcasing her readiness for the WNBA.
In a recent clash, Paopao notched an impressive 16 points, dished out five assists, and shot with remarkable efficiency, proving she’s a natural fit for the big stage. 💪🏀 Her composure, sharpshooting, and playmaking have drawn praise, with her performance against the New York Liberty — where she set a career-high in the first half alone — earning particular attention. Fans on X have been quick to celebrate, with posts highlighting her fearlessness from beyond the arc and her ability to deliver in clutch moments.
Paopao’s journey to the WNBA has been one of steady brilliance. A key figure in South Carolina’s 2024 national championship run, she led Division I with a 46.8% three-point shooting percentage and earned All-America and All-SEC honours. Her versatility, honed under coach Dawn Staley, shines through in her ability to space the floor, handle the ball, and compete defensively, even if it’s not her primary strength. Atlanta’s head coach, Karl Smesko, praised her poise under pressure, noting her as a perfect fit for the Dream’s three-point-centric offence.
Her rookie stats further underline her impact. Through 13 games, Paopao has averaged 6.9 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 rebounds, with an eye-catching 57.1% from the field and three-point range, alongside an 85.7% free-throw clip. Her standout moments include a 16-point outburst against the Chicago Sky, where she drained five of six three-pointers, and a preseason gem against the Indiana Fever, where she tallied 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting. These performances signal her potential to be more than a role player, with some analysts suggesting she could outshine higher-drafted rookies due to her size and shooting prowess.
As the Atlanta Dream, bolstered by stars like Brittney Griner and Rhyne Howard, aim to climb the WNBA ranks, Paopao’s emergence as a reliable bench spark and occasional starter is a promising sign. Her ability to deliver in high-stakes games, like pushing the Liberty to the limit, shows she’s already earning the trust of her teammates and coaching staff. With her championship pedigree and fearless style, Paopao is proving she’s not just a rookie to watch, but a future star in the making.
