Who Is Te-Hina Paopao? Stats, Career, and WNBA 2025 Draft Hopes

Te-Hina Paopao has gathered the attention of the basketball community due to her unnatural calm under tight conditions and her ability to shoot from outside the paint. That’s why Paopao has become one of the most hotly pursued talents in preparation for the 2025 WNBA Draft. The 5’9″ guard has been a promising prospect for her shooting prowess and an uncanny resemblance with WNBA rising star Sabrina Ionescu. Even coaches of her respective collegiate teams are praising the young prospect for her potential success in the basketball league.

From being a star high school prospect to being a rising college force, she has always been determined to give her best in a professional career. Though she faced certain ups and downs during her college career, she carried her statistics better by soothing her emotions.

Even Oregon head coach Kelly Graves said about the promising talent, “Te-Hina’s skillset is incredible. She reminds me of Sabrina (Ionescu) in her ability to affect the game in so many ways. She is a strong rebounder, an uncanny passer and an elite three-point shooter. She’s an unselfish teammate, a hard worker who always plays the game with a huge smile, and a baller to the max with a really high basketball IQ.” This article delves deep into Te-Hina Paopao’s experiences with her unusual playing and predicts what could be in store for her in the WNBA.

Early Life and Basketball Beginning

Te-Hina Paopao was born and raised in Oceanside, California, with a family that basically gave importance to sports and competition. Ocean Hawaii is the place where she was born and raised, much influenced by her Polynesian ancestry so as to shape her sense of belonging and determination. The youngest of three siblings, she very often is seen on the sidelines watching her older brothers’ games, learning basic basketball skills before she was able to dribble.

Her affinity for the sport grew when she was inducted into a neighboring youth league at six years old. Her parents, in every sense enthusiastic supporter of her future ambitions, encouraged her to take the sport seriously. During middle school, it became quite evident to everyone that Te-Hina had a natural gift for basketball. Her earliest distinction came as an ability to lead her team during play and make those great clutch plays when the game was on the line.

Te-Hina Paopao’s High School Career and Early Achievements

From the cradle of La Jolla Country Day School- the institution of classicism and among the most exalted in nurturing top players like Te-Hina Paopao. She trained under head coach Terri Bamford and came to be the centerpiece of a team that established itself in local, then national, competition. Even WNBA star Kelsey Plum loves to workout with Te-Hina Paopao as she later said, “She’s just never scared. It’s like a fearlessness but a confidence that she has… I think she could start in the Pac-12 right now… Honestly, I think she could be the best to come out of San Diego.”

She further added, “Even to this day, when I go back, that’s the only kid I would let work out with me, because she can hang with the intensity… She pushes me because I’m like, ‘I can’t let a 12-year-old beat me in this shooting drill.”

Key Highlights of Her High School Career:

• Freshman Year: Earned a starting spot, averaging 12.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
• Sophomore Year: Led her team to a state championship, earning the California Player of the Year title for her pivotal role in the finals.
• Junior and Senior Years: Solidified her reputation as a top recruit, earning McDonald’s All-American honors and invitations to elite camps, including USA Basketball’s youth programs. She also averaged 22.7 points, 8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game during her senior year at the LJCD.

By the time she graduated from high school, Te-Hina Paopao had already made her name through her on-court scoring. Some of the major media outlets named her the part of the top five guards in the nation in high school at that time. Here are some of the major highlights of her high school career:

• The 2020 California Gatorade State player of the year
• Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Basketball player of the year, Coastal League player of the year
• San Diego Section player of the year and MaxPreps California State player of the year
• Led La Jolla Country Day School to a 32-1 record and a No. 1 national ranking as a senior
• Averaging 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game
• Racked up 10 double-doubles and one triple-double as a senior while scoring 30 points or more six times
• The 2019 Coast League player of the year and a first-team all-San Diego Section selection as a junior in 2018-19 after averaging 17.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game as a junior
• Led LJCD to the Regional Championship and the California State Final Four in 2018-19

Te-Hina Paopao’s College Basketball Career and Stats

University of Oregon was the next basketball destination for Te-Hina Paopao after her LJCD dominance. The 5’9″ guard was even an All-Pac 12 member in her freshman year of collegiate career. It proves one thing that the guard was able to secure her role as a permanent on the freshman team, as per Oregon’s official site.

Key Stats from Her College Career (as of 2024):

• Freshman Season: Averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 39.5% from three-point range.
• Sophomore Season: Elevated her game, recording 13.6 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. She earned All-Pac-12 honors.
• Junior Season: Averaged 13.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 4.2 rebounds, showcasing her ability to control games as a floor general.
• Senior Season: (Ongoing) Has consistently posted double-doubles, with notable performances against top-ranked opponents. Till now, she has averaged 13.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3 assists in the seven games she has played.

Te-Hina Paopao has also been instrumental in leading the Ducks to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. One of the standalone appearances from her side that gained all eyes was Te-Hina leading the Ducsks team to the Elite Eight during her Sophomore season. However, she transferred to South Carolina University during her junior season. For now, she is currently growing as a senior at the University of South Carolina. Here are the overall achievements of the promising prospect during her college basketball stint:

• All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention (2023)
• Pac-12 Player of the Week (Feb. 27, 2023)
• All-Pac-12 First Team (2022)
• All-Pac-12 First Team (2021)
• Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2021)

Te-Hina Paopao’s Playing Style and Key Strengths

Te-Hina Paopao’s playing style is basically about adaptability to the intense situation on the court. She maintains her calm to pass the ball and make the movements on the court. She is smart enough to rotate the ball and then create shooting opportunities. It can be for herself or her teammates. Either way she leads the team when the team needs it and that’s what makes her playing style unique as there can be only one leader on the basketball court during a play.

Key Strengths:

1. Versatility: Whether as a point guard or off the ball, Paopao excels in adapting her role based on her team’s needs.
2. Shooting Range: A consistent threat from beyond the arc, with a career college three-point shooting percentage hovering around 38%.
3. Defensive Prowess: Known for her ability to anticipate plays, she frequently disrupts opponents with steals and deflections.
4. Leadership: Te-Hina’s ability to inspire her teammates and remain calm under pressure has made her a captain and a key decision-maker on the court.

Te-Hina Paopao’s impact as a guard has even impressed players like Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu. She is intense enough to retaliate in an atmosphere like WNBA and yet calm enough to shoot from the three-point line. That’s why she might not get the top spot in the draft class but might grow to be the best in future.

Te-Hina Paopao Impact on the Court: Key Stats and Performance

Te-Hina Paopao is quite a performer, but her ability to be calm and shoot from a three-point line is what makes her special. That’s where the players witness the guard as a leader on the basketball hardcourt. So if Te-Hina Paopao ever steps on the court, she might be one of the future top leaders for the WNBA league and the league franchises. Here is a comparison between her stages of basketball development as per the ESPN data.

Her statistical contributions highlight her all-around impact on both ends of the court, further establishing her reputation as a basketball prodigy.

What Does the WNBA Draft 2025 Hold for Te-Hina Paopao?

There is a wide belief that Te-Hina Paopao will be a first-round selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft though her on-court leadership can be a testament to the faith. Also, along with her well-honed technical skills, her experience as a leader for Oregon places her miles above her peers in readiness for professional basketball. The basketball hardcourt is full of role players who just need a quick guide to face the opposition.

Factors Boosting Her Draft Stock:

1. Proven Versatility: Her ability to excel in multiple roles makes her a valuable asset for any WNBA team.
2. Experience Under Pressure: Paopao has consistently delivered in clutch moments during her collegiate career, a trait that WNBA coaches value highly.
3. Physical and Mental Toughness: Her durability and resilience have been evident throughout her career, as she has bounced back from injuries and adversity with poise.
4. Sharpshooting Abilities: Te-Hina Paopao has been a shooting prowess since the dawn of her basketball career and that’s why even some of the WNBA stars love her.

Potential Teams Interested:

• Seattle Storm: In search of a young guard to complement their rebuilding efforts.
• Minnesota Lynx: A team with a history of nurturing versatile guards who thrive in fast-paced systems.
• Los Angeles Sparks: Paopao’s California roots could make her an ideal fit for the Sparks’ fanbase.

The 2025 WNBA draft class has top recruits especially after the success of the women’s basketball after the 2024 season. So, there are chances that Te-Hina Paopao will land in the first round due to her unique nature. Still, it is quite uncertain if she will get the spot in the top five draft picks in the next season of WNBA.

 Rising Star in Women’s Basketball

The tale of Te-Hina Paopao in basketball is that of hard work, skill, and passion; from her times in Oceanside. She faced two ACL injuries during her high school season, yet she was able to make an impact in her freshman year of college. Even players like Kelsey Plum have been hopeful for the impact that the young guard might make in the league in the upcoming times.

With such diversified skills, Te-Hina Paopao is bound to create an earthquake in the field of women’s basketball. Her future in professional basketball is bright, whether she shines as the playmaker, scorer, or classroom leader.