Te-Hina Paopao:Bio, Net worth, Height, Age, Stats, Salary and More

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.

Te-Hina Paopao Personal Information

Te-Hina Paopao is a talented basketball player known for her skills as a guard. She played college basketball at the University of Oregon, showcasing leadership and scoring ability on the court.

Full Name	Te-Hina Paopao
Age	22 (as of 2025)
DOB	21 August 2002
Nationality	American
Position	Guard
Height	5’9″ (1.75 m)
Weight	145 lbs (66 kg)
Father Name	Joe Paopao
Education	University of Oregon (Basketball)
Team	South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC)
Draft Info	Undrafted (as of 2025)
Experience	College Basketball, USA U19 National Team

Early Life and Basketball Beginning

Te-Hina Paopao was born and raised in Oceanside, California, with a family that gave importance to sports and competition. Ocean Hawaii is the place where she was born and raised, much influenced by her Polynesian ancestry 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 supporters 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

Year	Highlights
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.
	Awarded California Player of the Year for her pivotal role in the finals.
Junior and Senior Years	Solidified her reputation as a top recruit, earning McDonald’s All-American honors.
	Invited to elite camps, including USA Basketball’s youth programs.
	Averaged 22.7 points, 8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game during her senior year at 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

Paopao Family Background

Te-Hina Paopao comes from a large Polynesian family with quite a bit of athletic background. She has four siblings– older brothers Israel, Isaia, and an older sister Tiare as well as a younger brother, Also she has been encouraged by Mehgan Faraimo, a softball player and a close friend. Te-Hina has been encouraged by her family members, especially her brothers and sisters. She also has a younger brother. Her family has always supported her in all manners in the sweet game of basketball that she has always played with her siblings including Israel.

Te-Hina Paopao Personal Assets

Cars: Te-Hina Paopao keeps her personal life private, and details about her car preferences are not publicly known.

House: Information about her residence is not disclosed, but as an athlete, she values comfort and convenience.

Diet: Paopao follows a nutritious diet focused on proteins, veggies, and hydration to maintain peak athletic performance.

Te-Hina Paopao Social Media

Instagram: @tehinapaopao

X: @tehinapaopa0

Te-Hina Paopao has been able to attract many followers which are around 78.5k on Instagram proving that she is famous both in the basketball field. l still observe that she is very productive with her Instagram – posting not only clips of her hoops’ life but also being expressive and vocal about things that are important to her. Through her posts, she not only encourages young athletes but also shares her Polynesian roots and communicates with fans. The fans can see her vivid character and leadership.

Te-Hina Paopao’s Career 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.

Category	High School	College (As of 2024)
Points Per Game	18.5	13.1
Assists Per Game	6.2	3.0
Rebounds Per Game	7.0	2.3
Steals Per Game	3.5	1.1
Three-Point %	41%	51.3%

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 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.

Te-Hina Paopao Achievements

• Named to the All-Pac-12 Team during her college career at the University of Oregon.
• Selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team for her standout debut season.
• Represented Team USA in international competitions, showcasing her skills on a global stage.
• Known for her leadership and playmaking abilities as a key player for her team.