Paige Bueckers’ former UConn Huskies teammate is making history on the court, lauded by well-known coach Geno Auriemma, and is already endorsing beauty and lifestyle brands
Kaitlyn Chen made history this week as she debuted for the Golden State Valkyries in their inaugural pre-season game in San Francisco, as the first Taiwanese-American basketball player to be drafted by the WNBA. Fans cheered on her performance and many gave her a standing ovation, as she scored two points on 1-for-3 shooting and grabbed three rebounds in eight minutes.
Chen was waived by the Valkyries before the start of the season, but later re-signed to bolster the team as several players left to participate in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament.
In April, Chen and then-teammate Bueckers helped the Huskies end a nine-year championship drought, winning the 12th NCAA women’s basketball championship. Chen contributed two points, one rebound and four assists – the second highest on the team.
Chen was born in San Marino, California, to Taiwanese immigrants. She has credited her parents with playing a crucial role in her basketball career, per The Sporting News. They regularly globe-trot to attend her games and support her wherever she travels.
