WNBA teams intensively hunt for capable floor generals who excel in outside scoring and raise the performance of their team members. Te-Hina Paopao of South Carolina stands as the perfect example of such a player. The legendary coach Dawn Staley referred to this 5’9″ guard as an “elevator” after Paopao joined South Carolina from Oregon.
While her scoring has dipped to a career-low 9.5 points per game this season, Paopao’s career numbers — 1,712 total points and a scorching 39.9% clip from beyond the arc — highlight her elite shooting ability and leadership. Now, a bigger picture awaits her.
5 WNBA Teams That Could Draft Te-Hina Paopao
As the 2025 WNBA Draft approaches, here are five teams that could benefit from selecting Paopao based on their needs, draft positioning, and fit.
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks currently hold the ninth overall pick in 2025. However, they are a team that needs guard depth, 3-point shooting, and defensive reliability which are the three qualities that Paopao brings to the table.
The Sparks ranked in the bottom third of the league in assists last season (19.7 per game), and Paopao’s playmaking ability would help increase their offensive efficiency.
Additionally, Kelsey Plum, who joined the Sparks this offseason, exhibits significant admiration for Paopao, which should aid her integration into the team culture.
“For college, it’s Te-Hina Paopao, who just transferred from Oregon to South Carolina. That’s my girl. I’m hoping she has a big year,” Plum said about Paopao to USA Today in 2023.
Seattle Storm
Seattle, which has the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is building around Lexie Brown and Ezi Magbegor, but they need a young point guard to usher in their next era.
The Storm finished dead last in the WNBA in 3-point percentage last season (28.8%) and struggled with backcourt consistency. Paopao’s ability to stretch the floor and run an offense would give Seattle a dynamic help.
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics are amid a strategic reset, and with multiple first-round draft picks, they can capitalize on a player like Paopao.
The offensive system developed by Washington perfectly matches Paopao’s abilities because it focuses on 3-point shooting while utilizing smart ballhandling. Her deadly 3-point accuracy provides an instant benefit to a Mystics organization focused on space creation.
Head coach Sydney Johnson’s emphasis on basketball intelligence makes Paopao an ideal fit, as her time under Dawn Staley has refined her court awareness and decision-making.
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky are building their team up and could use a steady hand in the backcourt to pair with young stars like Angel Reese. Chicago ranked near the bottom of the league in 3-point percentage last season (32.3%), making Paopao’s sharpshooting a perfect remedy.
Chicago also has one pick from the first round of the WNBA 2025 Draft, which is a sign that they could target a guard like Paopao to complement their growing core.
Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream lacks first-round draft selections in 2025, thus significantly decreasing their chances of acquiring Paopao. However, the WNBA has always been unpredictable.
During the 2024 season, the Dream proved to be below average in 3-point shooting percentage as they placed 11th in the standings. Paopao’s career success rate from beyond the arc makes her acquisition attractive to the Dream because their current backcourt defenders excel defensively but don’t shoot with enough consistency to support the offense.