WNBA: Why Te-Hina Paopao is an ideal match for the Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream are starting a grand experiment.

They employed Karl Smesko as head coach, an offensive innovator recognized for the “shoot first, shoot second and shoot third” 3-point-centric assault he established at Florida Gulf Coast (FGCU). And but, the group then signed two elite—albeit taking pictures restricted—bigs in the course of the WNBA’s free company interval: all-timer Brittney Griner and All-Star Brionna Jones.

How will Griner and Jones, the unbiased variables on this experiment, impact the operation of Smesko’s offensive system? Can they elevate the dependent variables—the Dream’s core of Rhyne Howard, Allisha Grey and Jordin Canada—to new heights? May all of it devolve right into a reactive, explosive mess?

Within the 2025 WNBA Draft, nonetheless, the Dream didn’t add gamers who will disrupt their experiment. As a substitute, with South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao dropping to the workforce on the No. 18 total choose, they discovered a managed variable, a continuing who may be counted on regardless what else occurs.

For an Atlanta squad ushering in modifications that include nice promise but in addition looming chaos, Paopao is ideal, possessing a talent set that can go well with no matter permutations the Dream take, each in 2025 and past. Right here’s why:

She’s a shooter, however not only a shooter

Paopao’s taking pictures, clearly, makes her an interesting match for Atlanta, which owned the second-worst 3-point taking pictures proportion in 2024. Throughout 5 school seasons, three at Oregon and two at South Carolina, she shot 40 % from 3 on virtually 5 makes an attempt per recreation. Her junior 12 months, her first as a Gamecock, was her most sterling season, when she shot a Division I-best 46.8 % from downtown.

These numbers ought to maintain within the W, even with the elevated velocity and physicality of the league. For one, at the same time as Paopao didn’t aggressively hunt 3s, she needed to take a justifiable share of inauspicious pull-up 3s. For the Dream, she’ll usually be recognizing up behind the arc, spacing the ground for the likes or Howard and Grey and receiving open alternatives to fireplace away when opponents divert further consideration in the direction of the Dream’s perimeter stars, in addition to to Griner. Griner’s proficiency passing out of double groups, specifically, might lead to fruitful alternatives for Paopao.

Nonetheless, Atlanta ought to proceed to empower Paopao’s pull-up taking pictures, as it’s her capacity to empty triples off-the-bounce that makes her actually elite, distinguishing her from 3-point markswomen whose repertoire is proscribed to stationary, catch-and-shoot makes an attempt. It’s this capacity that takes her ceiling from “a great position participant” to a “star in her position,” with a smidge of All-Star upside. Her measurement additionally makes such a ceiling conceivable. Though not an enormous guard at 5-foot-9, she is greater than most gamers of her archetype, particularly amongst her fellow 2025 rookies. Whereas Georgia Amoore, chosen No. 6 total by the Washington Mystics, and Hailey Van Lith, nabbed at No. 11 by the Chicago Sky, might have spicier, saucier spotlight reels, they stand at 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-7, respectively, and are sketchier shooters. Paopao’s further inches, mixed together with her speedy taking pictures movement, make her path to efficient, environment friendly offensive basketball smoother—and will lead to her outplaying higher-drafted rookie guards.

And when she doesn’t shoot, Paopao can nonetheless make a constructive offensive affect together with her capacity to assault shut outs, a talent she sharpened throughout her ultimate school season. Whereas ending on the hoop might show difficult, she will dime up teammates off such drives as a consequence of her consolation and confidence with the ball in her palms.

As Smesko mentioned of his latest rookie, “Paopao is greater than a shooter, she competes on the defensive finish, she will deal with the ball, she’s anyone beneath strain conditions is ready to keep calm.”

She comes from the Daybreak Staley faculty of protection

Turning to Paopao’s protection, it’s not the explanation she’s within the WNBA, however actually won’t stop her from succeeding the league. To borrow Smesko’s phrases, she “competes on the defensive finish”—and that’s as a result of she performed for Daybreak Staley, the South Carolina head coach who calls for nothing much less of her gamers.

In South Carolina’s beginning lineup, she was the weakest defensive participant, and thus more than likely to be focused by opposing offenses. However as a rule, she was an efficient cog, doing her job as she was surrounded by superior defenders. The state of affairs will likely be related with the Dream, the place Canada is a premier perimeter pest, Grey is as gritty as they arrive, Howard may be dominant when dialed in and Griner and Jones mix to supply rim safety and low-post resistance. This infrastructure not solely will shield Paopao, but in addition permit her to gamble to generate deflections and steals, simply as she did for the Gamecocks.

Moreover, Paopao’s South Carolina education, which featured back-to-back runs to the nationwide championship recreation, ready her to play in high-pressure conditions—stay calm in such circumstances. The WNBA lights won’t be too brilliant for her, which ought to additional contribute to her readiness to play instantly.

Capturing versatility. Composed playmaking. Defensive competitiveness.

These are expertise that may improve any workforce, together with—and possibly particularly—the squad that the 2025 Dream hope to be. However, if Atlanta’s experiment blows up, leading to important modifications (or if the brand new CBA brings important modifications, no matter what occurs on the courtroom in 2025), anticipate Paopao to stay a continuing.