Te-Hina Paopao next up for growing list of South Carolina’s WNBA first-round picks
Te-Hina Paopao’s college basketball career ended with a loss to UConn in the national championship game.
The WNBA Draft was nothing more than an afterthought for Paopao in the moments after the game. Understandably so.
“I have no idea,” Paopao said of a potential draft spot. “I just been so focused on the tournament and wanting to win, but unfortunately we came up short.”
Paopao will find out her professional destination in a few days. The WNBA Draft is in New York City on Monday — just over a week removed from the national title game.
Paopao won’t be at the draft in person. She’ll watch instead from Oceanside, California with her family.
“I’ll be having the draft party at home just because I want my family to be there,” Paopao said. “I want to start with the people that have been there for the journey, for the ride. I’m just really excited for my next journey and just super proud.”
The “off season” will move at lighting speed for Paopao. First she’ll have the draft on Monday, and training camp will start soon after on April 27. The first day of the WNBA season is May 16.
There’s only so much prep work you can do in the week in between one career ending and the next beginning. Paopao admitted she didn’t really know what her prep would look like.
“That’s a question I should ask a coach, or a former player like Kamilla (Cardoso) or someone,” Paopao joked.
“But I feel like it’s just gonna be, get your mind and body right. Obviously it’s a quick turnaround, so don’t eat too much. Stay in shape, because I know training camp is going to be hard.”
Paopao ended her two years at South Carolina with a national championship and was a two-time All-SEC honoree. She was an All-American in 2024 after she ended the season averaging 11 points a game and led the country with a 3-point shooting percentage of 46.8%.
Mock draft projections
Paopao told The State she hopes to be a first-round pick. If that wish comes true she’d be the 14th Gamecock to be picked in the first round and the 12th of the Dawn Staley era.
Four major outlets have her being selected in the first round in their respective mock drafts. The WNBA Draft is three rounds and has 13 picks each round (this year the first round will be 12 picks after the Las Vegas Aces had to forfeit its pick).
Yahoo projects Paopao to be the No. 6 pick by the Washington Mystics. USA Today and The Athletic have Paopao being picked No. 10 by the Chicago Sky. Sports Illustrated has her slotted as the No. 12 pick to the Dallas Wings.
Regardless of who drafts her, Paopao said the organization will be getting a player who “will listen, someone who will do the little things, someone who wants just to win and will do whatever it takes to win.”
If Paopao were to be drafted by the Chicago Sky she’d be reunited with former South Carolina teammate Kamilla Cardoso. The two were staples of the Gamecocks’ undefeated national title team in 2024.
Though he did not refer to Paopao and Cardoso explicitly by name, Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said Friday that “it makes some sense” to pair up former college teammates.
“We’re always going to be looking for synergy between guards and bigs,” Pagliocca said. “So it makes some sense, of course, when there’s players available that could be in our range to get perspectives from players that they may have played with. We’re always going to continue to make the best decision for the organization. But yeah, it matters because continuity means a lot when you’re building a team.”
There aren’t many roster spots to go around for WNBA draftees. While first-round picks have a higher shot at making a team, they still aren’t guaranteed a roster spot. The latter is especially true for players drafted in the second and third rounds.
Dallas Wings GM Curt Miller said Friday that a player picked at the No. 12 spot — where Paopao is projected to go by Sports Illustrated — or the No. 14 spot (in the second round) would still have solid shot of making the team.
“Intentionally as we constructed the roster, we created an opportunity for 12 and 14 to make our opening day roster. That’s not the case around the league. With some late first round or second round picks, you would want to hear your name if you’re in that range for Dallas, because there is absolutely a legitimate chance for 12 and 14 to make our opening day roster.”
How to watch the WNBA Draft
When: Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app
Gamecocks drafted in the first round
Shaunzinski Gortman (2002)
Jocelyn Penn (2003)
Tiffany Mitchell (2016)
Alaina Coates (2017)
Allisha Gray (2017)
Kaela Davis (2017)
A’ja Wilson (2018)
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (2020)
Tyasha Harris (2020)
Aliyah Boston (2023)
Laeticia Amihere (2023)
Zia Cooke (2023)
Kamilla Cardoso (2024)
This story was originally published April 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
