Te-Hina Paopao Ready to Step Outside Her Comfort Zone in AU Pro Basketball Debut
Te-Hina Paopao wrapped her rookie WNBA season with the Atlanta Dream with valuable playoff experience and a clear understanding of where her game needs to go next. This winter, she’s heading to Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Season 5 with specific goals in mind and an eagerness to embrace the league’s player-led format.
“I’m just looking to be more of an overall player, not only as a three-point shooter, but someone that can create for others and score at a high level,” Paopao said.
The guard averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game during her first professional season. She found herself in the right situation with the Dream, playing for an organization that fit her game while getting crucial postseason experience. Her college career prepared her well — she spent time at Oregon before helping South Carolina capture an undefeated national championship in 2024.
Playing for Dawn Staley at South Carolina gave Paopao a head start that many rookies don’t get.
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“South Carolina prepared me really well for the pros. And shout out to Coach Staley and them,” she said. “She carries the program, like a pro program. So I was very fortunate to have that experience before getting to the league. And I’d say it was a pretty smooth transition to the league, just because of how prepared I was.”
Now Paopao is focused on fine-tuning the defensive side of her game during the AU season. It’s an area where she knows she needs to improve, and AU provides an environment to work on it against elite competition.
“Something that surprised me, just to see how physical–and you’re playing against a woman out there–so I have navigated a lot through screens, and so I’m looking to fine-tune that and just keep getting better,” she explained.
What makes AU particularly appealing is the league’s player-led format. Without team personnel making every decision, Paopao will need to trust her own basketball IQ and step into a leadership role she hasn’t been asked to fill before.
“I feel like that’s going to be a really good thing, especially getting out of my comfort zone and just being able to lead in my own way, and making decisions based on what I see and what I feel. So I’m really excited about that part,” Paopao said.
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She describes herself as an observer who learns by watching others, but she knows AU will push her beyond that comfort zone.
“I’m someone who is an observer, so I like to take a little bits and pieces from others, but at the same time, at the end of the day, I’m gonna have to make the decision on my own,” she said. “I think it’s just going to really showcase my IQ of the game.”
The adjustment won’t be easy, but Paopao believes it’s exactly what she needs.
“Honestly, I think I do a pretty good job adjusting to my environment and what I’m being thrown into. So I’m also gonna have to make a lot of adjustments based on, you know, being my first year at AU and learning the ins and outs and, not necessarily following anyone’s lead, but at the same time taking bits and parts of what they’re doing and adding it to my agenda, and going from there,” she explained.
Before committing to AU, Paopao talked with current and former players about their experiences. The feedback convinced her this was the right move.
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“I talked to Odyssey Sims a couple times about it. She loves it … Talked to my teammate [Alisha Gray]. She loved it as well. She’s a winner, so I like to pick her brain a little, and then Sydney Colson, [Theresa Plaisance], they’ve been very adamant about it, and they love it, and I’m just really excited to experience that.”
Staying stateside also means Paopao can have family support throughout the season, with relatives in Nashville and California planning to attend games. But the real draw is the competition and the chance to develop skills that will translate directly to the WNBA.
For Paopao, AU Pro Basketball represents a legitimate platform to elevate her game, challenge herself in new ways, and prove she can lead while continuing to build toward a long professional career.
“I took a lot, a lot from the [WNBA], and I know that I can instill that into AU, and I’m just really excited to stay in the states and have this opportunity … I mean, basketball can take you everywhere, and I’m just really excited for that, and just being able to do my job and have fun while doing it.”
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. Tickets 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.
