Te-Hina Paopao's journey from Oregon to South Carolina has transformed her into the makings of a future WNBA Draft pick
In the Samoan culture, family is key. It’s valuing the ones you love and the people in which you share your life experiences. A popular Samoan proverb goes “E leai se mea e sili atu i lo lou aiga,” roughly translated to mean “Nothing is more important than your family.”
Coming out of the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, Te-Hina Paopao wanted to stay on the West Coast to be close to her family. So, the five-star high school recruit decided to go nearly 1,000 miles up the coast to Eugene, Oregon.
After three seasons with the Oregon Ducks, leading the team since the moment she stepped on campus as a freshman, Paopao made the decision to find a new challenge and entered the transfer portal. Then, national championship-winning head coach Dawn Staley called.
With the South Carolina Gamecocks on the radar, how did Paopao decide to make the move to the South while her four siblings and family still resided in California?
“It was either ‘you’re gonna come with me or you’re just gonna stay at home and watch from afar,’” said Paopao.
https://www.sbnation.com/womens-ncaa-basketball/2025/1/29/24353357/south-carolina-womens-basketball-te-hina-paopao-wnba-draft-prospect-stats