Meet Kaitlyn Chen, who just got a standing ovation for her debut in the WNBA: the Princeton alum is the first Taiwanese-American drafted by the league, and collaborates with Stanley and Skinletics
Kaitlyn Chen made history this week as she debuted for the Golden State Valkyries in their inaugural pre-season game in San Francisco, as the first Taiwanese-American basketball player to be drafted by the WNBA. Fans cheered on her performance and many gave her a standing ovation, as she scored two points on 1-for-3 shooting and grabbed three rebounds in eight minutes.
The Golden State Valkyries' Kaitlyn Chen celebrates with Monique Billings after their team's win over the Connecticut Sun in a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco. Photo: San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Chen was waived by the Valkyries before the start of the season, but later re-signed to bolster the team as several players left to participate in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament.
Advertisement
The Taiwanese-American, 23, was once
Paige Bueckers ' teammate in the UConn Huskies women's team. Her former UConn coach Geno Auriemma lauded her for her competitiveness as well as her shooting abilities. 'Kaitlyn Chen is the kind of player that every really, really good team has,' he said, per The UConn Daily YouTube account. 'She's going to make it in that league.'
Kaitlyn Chen defends against Aneesah Morrow of the Connecticut Sun in a WNBA game in San Francisco on June 22. Photo: San Francisco Chronicle via AP
She could be the next
Angel Reese or
Caitlin Clark – some netizens have also taken to calling her the female Jeremy Lin. Here's everything to know about Kaitlyn Chen.
She's the first Taiwanese-American to win a women's college basketball title
Kaitlyn Chen in action during a NCAA game. Photo: @kaitlyn.chen/Instagram
In April, Chen and then-teammate Bueckers helped the Huskies end a nine-year championship drought, winning the 12th NCAA women's basketball championship. Chen contributed two points, one rebound and four assists – the second highest on the team.
Chen was born in San Marino, California, to Taiwanese immigrants. She has credited her parents with playing a crucial role in her basketball career, per The Sporting News. They regularly globe-trot to attend her games and support her wherever she travels.
Kaitlyn Chen, flanked by her parents, holds up her UConn Huskies jersey during Senior Day celebrations after a NCAA women's game. Photo: @kaitlyn.chen/Instagram
'I love when I get to look up in the stands and see them there,' she said, according to CT Insider. 'I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them and their support. So, I'm just very grateful for that.'
Her career began at Princeton University
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
15 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Meet Kaitlyn Chen, who just got a standing ovation for her debut in the WNBA: the Princeton alum is the first Taiwanese-American drafted by the league, and collaborates with Stanley and Skinletics
Kaitlyn Chen made history this week as she debuted for the Golden State Valkyries in their inaugural pre-season game in San Francisco, as the first Taiwanese-American basketball player to be drafted by the WNBA. Fans cheered on her performance and many gave her a standing ovation, as she scored two points on 1-for-3 shooting and grabbed three rebounds in eight minutes. The Golden State Valkyries' Kaitlyn Chen celebrates with Monique Billings after their team's win over the Connecticut Sun in a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco. Photo: San Francisco Chronicle via AP Chen was waived by the Valkyries before the start of the season, but later re-signed to bolster the team as several players left to participate in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament. Advertisement The Taiwanese-American, 23, was once Paige Bueckers ' teammate in the UConn Huskies women's team. Her former UConn coach Geno Auriemma lauded her for her competitiveness as well as her shooting abilities. 'Kaitlyn Chen is the kind of player that every really, really good team has,' he said, per The UConn Daily YouTube account. 'She's going to make it in that league.' Kaitlyn Chen defends against Aneesah Morrow of the Connecticut Sun in a WNBA game in San Francisco on June 22. Photo: San Francisco Chronicle via AP She could be the next Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark – some netizens have also taken to calling her the female Jeremy Lin. Here's everything to know about Kaitlyn Chen. She's the first Taiwanese-American to win a women's college basketball title Kaitlyn Chen in action during a NCAA game. Photo: @ In April, Chen and then-teammate Bueckers helped the Huskies end a nine-year championship drought, winning the 12th NCAA women's basketball championship. Chen contributed two points, one rebound and four assists – the second highest on the team. Chen was born in San Marino, California, to Taiwanese immigrants. She has credited her parents with playing a crucial role in her basketball career, per The Sporting News. They regularly globe-trot to attend her games and support her wherever she travels. Kaitlyn Chen, flanked by her parents, holds up her UConn Huskies jersey during Senior Day celebrations after a NCAA women's game. Photo: @ 'I love when I get to look up in the stands and see them there,' she said, according to CT Insider. 'I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them and their support. So, I'm just very grateful for that.' Her career began at Princeton University
South China Morning Post
21 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
2 Americans test positive for doping in top Chinese basketball league
The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency has released the names of two American basketball players who failed in-competition tests in April during the domestic league. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Chinese Basketball Association said it had been notified by the agency of doping violations involving Montrezl Dashay Harrell and Troy Akeem Gillenwater. It said both players tested positive for Carboxy-THC and that both have given up the right to have their 'B' samples tested. The CBA said it would impose penalties on the players once the anti-doping agency had made a final decision on the case. Carboxy-THC is found in cannabis. The World Anti-Doping Agency bans all forms of psychoactive cannabinoids during in-competition periods. Harrell, who was playing for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers at the time of the doping test on April 15, has been associated with four NBA teams. He played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals, winning the Karl Malone Award in 2015 as a junior for being the top power forward in the US. Gillenwater, who was playing for the Guangdong Southern Tigers when his test was conducted on April 16, graduated from New Mexico State in 2011.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Wu on overcoming the odds to chase his professional basketball dream
Rex Wu Wai-tsun knows he is fighting against the odds to fulfil his dream of playing basketball alongside the region's elite, but hopes competing in China's second tier will take him a step closer to making that a reality. At 6ft (1.82 metres), the 20-year-old Hongkonger is small by the standards of the modern game, but Wu, who has been chasing his goal for a decade, is used to defying expectations. Now, having joined Hong Kong Bulls for their third season in the National Basketball League, he has his eyes on a rapid rise. 'I want to play outside Hong Kong,' Wu said. 'I'd like to challenge myself in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) or in Japan's B League. 'My target is to be able to play [in those leagues] by the time I am 24. I love this sport and have spent so much time on it growing up. I have been persistent all along and I don't want to give up midway.' The Hong Kong Bulls will compete against seven other sides in the NBL starting on Saturday. Photo: Handout Expected to lead the city's under-22 side at the National Games in November, Wu said he had dreamed of becoming a professional since he was a child.
