Dawn Staley hasn’t spoken to Te-Hina Paopao about what might be next for in the WNBA — yet. While speaking to reporters at the Amalie Arena Thursday, April 3, Paopao told Sporting News the duo might have that conversation once the tournament is finished.
“We’ve just been focused on this,” Paopao said. “She lets me be who I am,” she added, something she appreciates. Paopao added that when the time is right, she’ll have that conversation with her coach, a 6-time WNBA All-Star and 3-time Olympic gold medalist.
Paopao also believes her leadership skills will translate to the WNBA. The 5’9″ guard is expected to be picked up in the first or second round of this year’s draft. While she knows she’ll be starting over in a lot of ways as a rookie, there’s a lot that she’s learned at South Carolina that she believes will serve her well no matter what team she ends up on.
“I’m just very blessed and fortunate to be in this position,” she said. “To be able to learn from Dawn, to take everything and apply it to my skills.”
Paopao and Raven Johnson also spoke about Dawn’s Daycare, a beloved part of the South Carolina Gamecocks experience for players and…
