Pros and cons of Atlanta Dream taking South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao in 2025 WNBA Draft

Yahoo

15-05-2025

South Carolina women's basketball guard Te-Hina Paopao was selected by the Atlanta Dream in the second round (No. 18 overall) of the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14.
The draft was held at The Shed at Hudson Yards in Manhattan, New York, but Paopao chose to watch it at home with her family in Oceanside, California.
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She was the first South Carolina player picked in this year's draft. She was joined in short order by guard Bree Hall (No. 20, Indiana Fever) and forward Sania Feagin (No. 21, Los Angeles Sparks). Hall also watched the draft from home, and coach Dawn Staley was in New York with Feagin.
Paopao, a 5-foot-9 shooting guard, started the past two seasons for South Carolina. She transferred before the 2023-24 season after beginning her career at Oregon. She averaged 9.4 points and 2.8 assists this season, improving her steals per game average from 0.8 to 1.1. Her assists led the team and her points per game average was fourth.
The positives: South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao
Paopao is a talented spot-up shooter who moves well without the ball. Her first year at South Carolina, she shot 46.8% from behind the 3-point line and was Staley's go-to shooter from outside.
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This season, her goal was to develop her game inside the arc, and she emphasized driving the ball and creating shots for herself. She took her offense to another level by running the floor for easy transition layups, but also cutting to the basket, looking for short jumpers. In general, she looked more confident and comfortable near the paint.
Staley complimented Paopao on how her defense improved within Staley's system, and in the NCAA Tournament, Paopao's defensive game was strong. She transformed from potentially being a liability against quicker guards to someone who can lock down on defense and jump through passing lanes for steals.
Throughout March Madness, she collected eight steals across six games.
Paopao is an intelligent passer and a natural leader, which can be an advantage as a rookie at the next level, especially knowing coaches can trust her to make the right plays and see simple passes. Her turnovers per game average dropped from 2.0 to 1.2.
The concerns: South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao
In nearly every category, Paopao's numbers decreased this season. She went from nearly 50% from the 3-point line to 37%, and her shooting percentage from the field dropped from 46.1% to 44.4%. Her scoring average decreased from 11.0 to 9.4. Her assists average went from 3.7 to 2.8.
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A lot of this was a result of being more passive with the basketball, and sometimes Paopao needs to be more assertive on offense. She went hot and cold this season, whereas last year, her points per game were more consistent.
Her role in the WNBA likely will be different than at South Carolina, and the hope is her numbers will mirror more closely her 2023-24 performance.
Final thoughts
Numerous teams need players like Paopao — someone who can come off the bench and make a positive impact, whether it's working with a taller center or preparing for kick-out 3-point shots.
She has developed her defense and is a hard worker who sees the game and floor well, which could translate to a long career at the pro level.
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [e-mail] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Atlanta Dream pick South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao in 2025 WNBA Draft