Golden State Valkyries favorite Kaitlyn Chen is headed to AU Pro Basketball this winter
From a standout Ivy League career, a national championship at UConn, and now a playoff berth in her first WNBA season, Kaitlyn Chen has built a resume full of exclamation marks. This winter, she’s set to add another chapter by joining Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball for its fifth season.
Chen, a third-round pick by the Golden State Valkyries, has become a fan favorite in the Bay Area. While her minutes have been limited, she’s quickly captured the hearts of Valkyries supporters.
The 5-foot-9 guard’s path to the pros was paved by a decorated college journey that spanned both the Ivy League and one of the most storied programs in women’s basketball.
At Princeton, she was the engine behind the Tigers’ success, finishing her career with 1,276 points, 359 assists, and 313 rebounds. She earned Ivy League Player of the Year honors in 2023, became a two-time First Team All-Ivy selection, and was named Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player three straight seasons. She carried Princeton to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances while climbing to third all-time in career assists and 12th in career points.
Her senior season in 2023-24 was her best. Chen averaged 15.8 points and 4.9 assists per game, recording double-doubles, 30-point outings, and clutch tournament performances that cemented her legacy as one of the Ivy League’s best guards of the decade.
Transferring to UConn as a graduate student for the 2024-25 season, Chen stepped onto an even bigger stage and thrived. She started all 40 games for the Huskies, averaging 6.9 points per game while posting career-high efficiency with a .514 field goal percentage, .354 from beyond the arc, and .842 at the line. Her consistency was a key piece in UConn’s march to the 2025 national championship.
Selected No. 30 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Chen joined the Golden State Valkyries for their inaugural season. At Golden State, she’s been embraced by the Valkyries’ fanbase and experienced firsthand the intensity of a playoff chase in her first pro year.
Next, Chen will turn her attention to Athletes Unlimited, where she’ll bring championship experience, versatility, and a competitive edge to the pool of veterans and emerging stars.
AU Pro Basketball returns to Nashville, Tennessee, with elite talent and electrifying energy, for its fifth championship season on February 4, 2026, at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Group and season ticket deposits for the upcoming season are available now.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
