Kaitlyn Chen becomes 1st Taiwanese American drafted to WNBA

Kaitlyn Chen attended the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14 simply to cheer on her UConn teammate Paige Bueckers. Instead, the senior guard found herself making history, becoming the first Taiwanese American ever drafted into the WNBA after being selected 30th overall in the third round by the Golden State Valkyries.

Chen later told reporters that the selection stunned even her: “I was really just here to watch Paige get drafted and I’m so happy for her, but it’s been an unreal night.” The moment, captured on countless phones held by her anticipating teammates, drew one of the loudest cheers of the night. “To be able to experience that with my team all around me and them all jumping and screaming was pretty amazing,” she added.

Born and raised in San Marino, California, Chen began her collegiate career at Princeton, where she earned Ivy League Player of the Year honors and multiple all-conference accolades. After transferring to UConn for her final year of eligibility, she started 40 games, averaging 6.9 points per game and helping lead the Huskies to their 12th national championship.

Chen’s selection is a landmark moment for Asian American representation in professional women’s basketball. In 2024, Asian Americans made up just 1.3% of female college basketball players. With her draft, Chen joins head coach Natalie Nakase — the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history — on the WNBA’s first expansion team since 2008 into its inaugural season.

The Golden State Valkyries, based in San Francisco and set to debut on May 16 at Chase Center, will feature Chen alongside other rookies including Kate Martin and UConn’s Aubrey Griffin. Nakase emphasized the team’s long-term vision: “I’m living proof that when you work really, really hard and you stay focused on your goal, that big dreams do come true.”