Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) athletes have steadily begun to make their mark in American sports. They have gathered international attention and are becoming household names across the globe. When fans think of AAPI basketball players, names like Dylan Harper, Jordan Clarkson, and Jaylin Williams immediately come to mind.
At the same time, the WNBA has developed its own group of impactful AAPI athletes who have become key contributors. As the league continues to grow, these players can serve as international icons and role models for future female athletes.
Kaitlyn Chen’s growth with the Golden State Valkyries
Kaitlyn Chen is a Taiwanese-American basketball player who is one of the Golden State Valkyries’ most popular players. Chen was drafted 30th overall by the Valkyries in the 2025 Draft. Most late-round picks struggle to make WNBA rosters, and Chen’s journey has been challenging.
Chen showed some initial difficulties as an undersized guard. Standing at 5’9, she was evaluated as a smaller player and had trouble creating her own offense against bigger perimeter defenders. On May 14, 2025, Chen was unfortunately waived from the Valkyries right before the regular season tip-off.
While these circumstances were discouraging, Chen didn’t give up. She kept her skills sharp by preparing for the 3XBA 3×3 tournament. By June 15, 2025, she re-signed with the Valkyries and got another opportunity to be the team’s backup point guard. She finished the season averaging 2.0 PPG and 1 AST on .380/.333/.714 shooting splits. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, Chen built a solid foundation for 2026. Throughout her young career, Chen has shown massive improvement by handling defensive pressure better and improving her perimeter shooting.
In turn, Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has started to trust Chen with increased ball-handling duties. Nakase often staggers Veronica Burton with the team’s second unit, and this season has deployed her more off-ball alongside Chen. This schematic change has helped relieve defensive pressure off Chen while keeping Burton fresh for more late-game minutes. As of June 16, Chen is averaging 5.5 PPG and 1.5 AST on blistering .473/.571/.846 shooting splits, a significant jump from her rookie season.
As Chen continues to get comfortable in the WNBA, Nakase’s support has gone a long way in helping her.
“I feel like I’ve already learned so much from her,” Chen told The Local W, “and there’s so much more I can learn from her. I appreciate her telling me about the little things I should be doing. There’s so much to learn from her and the vets on our team.”
Chen is off to a good start in the WNBA. Down South, another AAPI basketball player is shining as well.
Te-Hina Paopao’s shooting gives Atlanta another dimension
Te-Hina Paopao is a Samoan athlete who is developing into one of the league’s best 3-point shooters. In 2025, she was drafted 18th overall by the Atlanta Dream. Throughout her rookie year, she showed her value as a dynamic combo-guard by averaging 5.8 PPG and 2.4 AST on .440/.386/.538 shooting splits. Paopao showed flashes of being able to play both the primary and secondary facilitating role, making her an easy fit next to more dominant ball handlers on the Dream.
For her second season, Paopao continues to show improvement. She serves as a spark plug off the bench and works as a strong change of pace guard. As she adjusts to the league’s physicality, Paopao has developed as a solid defender and excels at reading passing lanes to generate turnovers.
Dream head coach Karl Smesko trusts his second-year player, and Paopao regularly logs starter-level minutes despite playing behind Jordin Canada. Mechanically, she has a quick and consistent dip in her shot form, making it difficult for defenders to contest her shots. Paopao is also comfortable navigating off-ball screens and shooting on the move.
Paopao still has major room to grow in shooting off the dribble. Currently, 90% of her 3-pointers have been assisted by her teammates. However, she still provides invaluable spacing for the team’s interior scorers. Paopao is currently experiencing a sophomore slump at 4.8 PPG and 1.5 AST on .350/.395/.833 shooting splits. Despite that, she still projects to be a key contributor to the Dream’s contending hopes.
Natalie Nakase’s impact beyond the sidelines
While not a WNBA athlete, Japanese-American Natalie Nakase is one of the best coaches in the WNBA. Nakase is the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history and led the Valkyries to a historic inaugural season.
The Nakase-led Valkyries became the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs in their first season. Due to this unprecedented success, Nakase won the WNBA Coach of the Year award in a rout.
As a defensive-minded coach, she has emphasized point-of-attack physicality and specializes in using physical double teams to throw off opposing teams’ star players. The Valkyries have started the season strong and Nakase is preparing her team for another strong playoff push.
What AAPI representation could mean for WNBA growth
Beyond individual success stories, increased AAPI representation in the league helps broaden many pathways in women’s basketball. Players like Kaitlyn Chen and Te-Hina Paopao demonstrate that AAPI athletes can develop into players who can contribute at the highest level. Natalie Nakase’s success shows that leadership opportunities are becoming more accessible as well. As more AAPI players, coaches, and front-office personnel enter the WNBA, it can create a sustainable pipeline that can help expand the sport’s global reach.