Dreams Come True: Continuing to Excel

After leading LJCDS’ women’s basketball team to a 32–1 record and the No. 1 national ranking for the 2019–2020 season, Te-Hina Paopao ’20 is not resting on her laurels. The 5-foot-9 guard just took her game global, helping the U.S. Women’s U19 National Basketball Team win the gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Hungary. The U.S. team was 7–0 for the tournament, defeating Australia decisively, 70–52, in the title game. Paopao started all seven games and finished the tournament averaging 9.1 points, 4.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals. The U.S. women have been dominant in this tournament, winning seven of the past eight FIBAs. 

Paopao, who was an All-American at LJCDS, is returning from international play to begin her sophomore year at the University of Oregon. A starting guard for the Ducks, Paopao was an All-PAC-12 selection as a freshman, when she averaged 10.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. She also led all NCAA freshmen with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Photo by FIBA.basketball