Te-Hina Paopao’s Contract Details Unveiled After WNBA Draft
At the 2025 WNBA Draft, Atlanta Dream picked Te-Hina Paopao as the 18th overall selection in round two. Paopao’s contract may total $305,957 over four years. She earns $69,267 in her rookie season. By 2028, her pay should rise to $88,317. Spotrac shows that players selected from picks 13 to 24 share this pay scale.
At South Carolina, Paopao played two seasons. She averaged 10.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Her numbers and awards helped her team win a national championship in 2024. The Gamecocks, with Paopao on the team, aimed for two titles. They lost the final to the UConn Huskies and Paige Bueckers—the number one pick that year.
Coach Dawn Staley praised Paopao’s defense. She said Paopao guards strong offensive plays. After a key NCAA Tournament win against Indiana, Staley noted, "They go after her. They use ball screen actions. They target her to wear her down. They want her shot to lose its flow in the third and fourth quarters." She added, "Pao is not one that wants to stick out in that way," showing that Paopao sticks to the team’s defensive plans.
Even though she was a second-round pick, Paopao was the Dream’s top choice. The team then chose Taylor Thierry from Ohio State. The Atlanta Dream ended the 2024 season with a record of 15-25, placing them eighth in the WNBA standings.
Looking ahead, the Dream want a fresh start. The new season begins on May 16. They will play the Washington Mystics first and meet them again in a preseason game on May 7.
