When South Carolina’s fifth-year guard was invited as one of 16 players to the 2025 WNBA Draft, she decided not to attend. While she waited and heard her name called on April 14th, instead of watching from the audience, she stayed with her family in Oceanside, California. Of course, she had a reason for that. “I want to start with the people that have been there for the journey, for the ride. I’m just really excited for my next journey and just super proud,” she shared. And that was how she was picked up as the 18th overall pick by the Atlanta Dream. Surely an achievement, but getting drafted isn’t enough, especially when the Dream picked her up with a specific motive.

In case you’re unaware, Paopao was drafted to add some shooting to the roster. “We definitely wanted to add some shooting to the roster, that was really important to us as we were evaluating players,” said Wade Smesko after the draft. Considering that she made the program’s best 14 three-pointers during the NCAA Tournament, there was no doubt about her caliber. But the W isn’t as easy as collegiate basketball.

Most players take a while to adjust to the league’s demands and get the hang of it. However, Paopao is not your ordinary player. Within a few days, she understood the requirements. After all, she had been preparing for a long time, preparing herself to pose a threat to the biggest of the league. The best thing is that she has confidence, which is the first and most crucial step. So, yes, the other players in the league might want to take her seriously.

Recently, after training camp, she made it even clearer, saying, “I mean, I was prepared before the tournament. I prepared myself. I knew that I had to come in and do what I needed to do to make the team.”

For her, all this preparation started long before she heard her name called as the 18th pick by the Dream. It all began when Paopao became one of the key pieces of Staley’s strategically built depth. Consider that Paopao dropped 23 points in a game — enough to help South Carolina pass its first big test of the season with a 71-57 win over 9th-ranked NC State in November. And her confidence stems not only from her experiences in South Carolina’s rigorous program but also from her time at Oregon. It’s exactly where she developed into one of the top players in the Pac-12. However, she knows the WNBA is bigger than any of these experiences.

“There’s a little nervousness, being a rookie and all, and coming into training camp… Overall, I’m excited, I’m prepared, and I’m just ready to get it going this weekend. It’s been a great day,” Paopao added, making it clear she’s ready for the next chapter despite the nerves.

For sure, it won’t be easy, especially when she’s going to play against big names like Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Napheesa Collier, and many more. Matching that level of skill might take some time. But there’s still one thing working in her favor: her training.

While she had been preparing for a while, it’s the training camp that’s offering her a real taste of the W. So, even those nerves will be wiped away soon.  And you might think that her stats with the Gamecocks were just decent, so why is she being so hyped? Well, it’s because she’s got a secret weapon!

Dawn Staley’s Star Player is a Defensive Powerhouse!

While the Atlanta Dream picked up Paopao expecting her to add valuable shooting experience to the roster, that’s not all she offers. She’s a defensive powerhouse, too. It all started building up when the 5-foot-9 guard from California was in her senior year.

That’s when she started turning heads, slowly but surely. Consider her game against No. 9 Indiana, where she surprised everyone — herself included — by recording a career-high four blocks, a rare feat for a guard. “Y’all see that? I’m really proud of myself. I had more blocks than threes today,” she laughed in the postgame presser, a nod to her defensive growth.

In fact, it was her defensive instincts that earned her a spot in South Carolina’s “Seatbelt Gang“, the nickname given to the Gamecocks’ elite defensive unit. Led by head coach Dawn Staley, this group embodied the team’s no-nonsense, defensive-first mindset. And Paopao’s commitment to improving on that side of the ball was clear when she switched shoes before the Indiana game, saying, “These are not my defensive shoes; I got to put on my defensive shoes.”

And just like that, it didn’t take long for her to prove that she was more than just a shooter — she was a well-rounded, two-way player. Now, she’ll be taking all those skills to the WNBA as a member of the Atlanta Dream. And guess what? The timing couldn’t be better.

After an up-and-down 2024 season, the Atlanta Dream are primed for a fresh start. After finishing with a 15-25 record and securing the 8th and final playoff spot, the Dream made a tough first-round exit. But change is on the horizon. The Dream’s rookie weapon has arrived, and it’s clear that Paopao is not just prepared to play in the pros — she’s prepared to dominate.