WNBA: Te-Hina Paopao and More AU Stars Stand Out in Week 2
The key figures of the 2026 WNBA season are still coming into view, but several Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball standouts continued to show why they were among the most impactful players in Nashville this winter. A pair of young stars showcased the same prowess that AU fans became accustomed to seeing during Season 5, while two established veterans continued to chip in steady production and build on strong starts for their teams during Week 2 of WNBA play.
Here are four AU players who stood out during Week 2.
Te-Hina Paopao
Te-Hina Paopao became another member of the 2025 WNBA Draft class to reach a career high during the opening stages of the 2026 season despite Atlanta’s narrow 85-84 loss to Las Vegas.
The rookie guard scored 19 points while logging a season-high 36 minutes. She shot 5-for-14 from the field and knocked down four of her nine attempts from three-point range while also contributing two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Her 19 points trailed only Allisha Gray’s 25-point performance for Atlanta.
For Las Vegas, AU veteran NaLyssa Smith continued her steady production with 13 points, marking her third double-figure scoring game of the season.
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Sarah Ashlee Barker
Sarah Ashlee Barker continued her strong sophomore campaign with the best performance of her WNBA career during Portland’s win over the Connecticut Sun on Monday night.
She posted a career-high 18 points in 21 minutes while shooting 7-for-13 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Barker also added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the win. Her 18 points matched a team-high total alongside Bridget Carleton.
For Connecticut, fellow AU standout Aneesah Morrow secured another double-double with 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. She also added four assists, one steal, and one block despite the loss.
Rebekah Gardner
Rebekah Gardner delivered her strongest performances of the year while helping the New York Liberty secure a 100-82 win over the Portland Fire in the second game of a back-to-back series on Thursday night.
She shot 4-for-7 from the field and 2-for-4 from three-point range while adding five rebounds and five assists in the win. Gardner’s 14 points ranked third on the team behind Breanna Stewart’s 22 and Pauline Astier’s 20.
The outing marked Gardner’s highest scoring performance since September 2025, when she scored 15 points versus Chicago.
Natasha Mack
Natasha Mack continued her dominant start to the season with another pair of impactful performances for the Phoenix Mercury.
She recorded her third double-figure scoring game of the season during Phoenix’s 91-83 win over the Chicago Sky on Friday, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a season-high four blocks.
Mack followed that performance with her second double-double of the season on Tuesday night despite Phoenix’s loss to Toronto, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
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Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
