Te Hina Paopao

Who Is Te-Hina Paopao?

Te-Hina Olive-Talaave Paopao is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

She is the first player of Tokelauan descent to be drafted into the WNBA.

Te-Hina Paopao is a championship-tested guard known for her elite shooting and poised leadership. From surviving two ACL injuries in high school, to winning a national championship at South Carolina, to hearing her name called on draft night — her journey is one of the most compelling in recent women’s basketball history.

Early Life: Growing Up in Oceanside, California

Family and Heritage

Paopao is the daughter of Diana and Paul Paopao. She was born on August 21, 2002, in Oceanside, California.

She proudly celebrates her Samoan and Tokelauan roots, often sharing stories of her culture and traditions with fans. She wore a traditional puletasi — a garment that symbolizes her pride in her culture — at her draft party in Oceanside.

Paopao has said that her heritage gives her strength and motivation. She believes that carrying her culture with her onto the court reminds her of where she comes from and why she works so hard.

“I’m proud to be Samoan and to share my culture in Atlanta,” she said.

A Basketball Prodigy From the Start

Te-Hina showed elite basketball instincts long before high school. By the time she was 10 years old, she was already the starting point guard on a U16 National team.

Her parents put her in soccer and softball early on. She also tried volleyball. However, none of them stuck. Basketball did. It became her language. It became her future.

High School Career: Injuries, Resilience, and a Rise to the Top

La Jolla Country Day School

Before her college career, Paopao attended La Jolla Country Day School in La Jolla, San Diego, California. It was there that her story took its most dramatic early turn.

Two ACL Injuries in Two Years

In her freshman year at La Jolla, Paopao tore her ACL. Then, in her first scrimmage as a sophomore, she tore her other ACL.

Most athletes would crumble under that kind of adversity. Te-Hina did not. Instead, she came back stronger. Both times.

Her form after two ACL injuries was remarkable. As her coach noted, “It’s like they never happened.”

A Senior Season to Remember

As a senior, Paopao helped her team to a 32-1 record. She averaged 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game.

She led the Torreys to a San Diego Section CIF Open Division championship. However, her state title dreams were cut short by COVID-19 in March 2020.

“Senior year was so much fun after injuries upon injuries,” Paopao said. “I felt like we were going to win the state championship that year, but because of COVID, we couldn’t.”

High School Honors

Paopao received McDonald’s All-American honors and was named California Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020. She also earned the Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Basketball Player of the Year and MaxPreps California State Player of the Year honors. Furthermore, she was the MVP of the Nike Tournament of Champions and a finalist for the Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year.

She was rated a five-star recruit by ESPN and ranked 11th overall in the 2020 class.

College Career: Oregon Ducks (2020–2023)

Arriving at Oregon

Paopao committed to the Oregon Ducks over offers from California, Oregon State, and UCLA, among other programs.

Oregon head coach Kelly Graves praised her highly: “I think Te-Hina is next in the line of those guards that we’ve had that can just fill up the stat sheet.”

Freshman Year (2020–21)

Paopao entered her freshman season as Oregon’s starter. She appeared in 19 contests and averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. She was named to the All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman teams. Oregon reached the NCAA Sweet 16 that season.

Sophomore Year (2021–22)

In the 2021–22 season, Paopao played in 23 contests. She averaged 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. However, she was also sidelined for part of the season due to injury. Despite this, she continued to earn All-Pac-12 recognition.

Junior Year (2022–23)

In the 2022–23 season, Paopao saw action in 35 games and averaged 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for the Oregon Ducks. Her best game was a 28-point outing against Stanford.

By sophomore year, all the other four five-star recruits from Paopao’s recruiting class had transferred out of Oregon. However, Paopao confirmed her stance to stay with the program. She was the last one standing. That said, after three years, she ultimately chose a new chapter.

Oregon Career Totals

She finished her Oregon career averaging 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. She shot 38.0% from three-point range. She scored in double figures 51 times in 77 career games, including 11 outings with 20 or more points.

College Career: South Carolina Gamecocks (2023–2025)

A Bold Transfer Decision

When Te-Hina Paopao transferred from Oregon to South Carolina, even she couldn’t believe it. As a West Coast native, the idea of moving 2,646 miles across the country to play for the Gamecocks had never crossed her mind.

Junior Year at South Carolina (2023–24): National Championship

Under head coach Dawn Staley, the 22-year-old took a significant developmental leap.

Paopao played a key role in South Carolina’s undefeated national title run in 2023–24. She earned All-America and All-SEC honors while leading the nation in three-point percentage at 46.8%. She set a program record for games started and knocked down 87 three-pointers on the season — third-most in school history.

She also made the most three-point field goals in a single NCAA Tournament with 14. She contributed 11.0 points per game to the championship run.

Senior Year at South Carolina (2024–25): Runner-Up Finish

During her final year at South Carolina, Paopao was a starter in all 39 games. She averaged 9.4 points per game and shot 37.0% from the three-point range.

South Carolina was close to going back-to-back but lost in the title game to Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies. It was a heartbreaking finish. However, it came after an extraordinary year of basketball and personal growth.

South Carolina Career Honors

Her honors at South Carolina included Second-Team All-America (2024 — USBWA), All-America Honorable Mention (2024 and 2025), and two All-SEC Second Team selections (2024 and 2025). She was also a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award.

Five-Year Career Totals

Paopao amassed 1,738 points with 502 rebounds over five college seasons while starting 152 of 153 games.

International Career: USA Gold Medal (2021)

Paopao represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. She helped her national team win the gold medal in Hungary. She averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per contest.

This international experience reinforced her standing as one of the top guards of her generation.

WNBA Career: Atlanta Dream (2025–Present)

The 2025 WNBA Draft

On April 14, 2025, the Atlanta Dream selected Te-Hina Paopao with the 18th pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She was the Dream’s first pick of the entire night.

She is the first player of Tokelauan descent to be drafted into the WNBA. That moment carried enormous cultural significance — not just for her family, but for an entire community.

Rookie Season (2025)

Paopao appeared in 43 games as a rookie with 15 starts. She averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. She shot 43.8% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range.

The Atlanta Dream finished the 2025 season 30–14, ranking first in the WNBA Eastern Conference. Paopao contributed to one of the best seasons in the franchise’s recent history.

In September 2025, Paopao joined Athletes Unlimited. She shot 6-for-8 from the field, including 4-of-6 from long range, against Washington on June 15, 2025, and also went 6-of-8 in a 16-point performance in another outing.

Personal Life: Culture, Family, and Character

A Family Built Around Sport

The Atlanta Dream guard comes from a family with strong football roots. Her cousin, Megan Faraimo, led the Talons to the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Softball League title. Athletics clearly runs deep in the Paopao family tree.

Cultural Pride

Paopao proudly celebrates her Samoan and Tokelauan roots. She often shares stories of her culture and traditions with fans. Her middle name, Olive-Talaave, itself reflects her deep Pacific Island heritage.

Community and Character

Paopao has maintained a strong academic record. She has been a devoted member of her church youth group, volunteering locally to feed the homeless and assisting at a senior living facility. On the court, she is a competitor. Off it, she is a community builder.

Career Highlights at a Glance

Award	Year	Institution
California Gatorade Player of the Year	2020	La Jolla Country Day School
Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Basketball Player of the Year	2020	La Jolla Country Day School
McDonald’s All-American	2020	La Jolla Country Day School
Pac-12 All-Freshman Team	2021	University of Oregon
3× All-Pac-12 Team	2021, 2022, 2023	University of Oregon
FIBA U-19 World Cup Gold Medal	2021	USA Basketball
NCAA National Champion	2024	University of South Carolina
NCAA Nation Leader — 3PT% (46.8%)	2024	University of South Carolina
Second-Team All-American (USBWA)	2024	University of South Carolina
2× All-SEC Second Team	2024, 2025	University of South Carolina
2025 WNBA Draft — 18th Overall Pick	2025	Atlanta Dream
First Player of Tokelauan Heritage in WNBA	2025	Historic Milestone

Career Statistics

College Career (Per Season)

Season	School	G	PTS	REB	AST	3PT%
2020–21	Oregon	19	10.2	3.2	4.4	46.2%
2021–22	Oregon	23	13.6	4.0	3.3	—
2022–23	Oregon	35	13.1	4.2	3.3	42.4%
2023–24	South Carolina	—	11.0	—	—	46.8%
2024–25	South Carolina	39	9.4	—	—	37.0%
5-Year Total	—	153	1,738 pts	502 reb	—	.422 career

WNBA Rookie Season (2025)

Season	Team	G	GS	PTS	REB	AST	FG%	3PT%
2025	Atlanta Dream	43	15	5.8	1.6	2.4	43.8%	38.6%