SHOCKING NEWS: Shockwaves Hit Colonial Life Arena as Star Guard Te-Hina Paopao Enters Transfer Portal
In a move that has stunned fans and sent shockwaves through the women’s college basketball world, South Carolina Gamecocks’ standout guard Te-Hina Paopao has unexpectedly entered the NCAA transfer portal. The announcement comes as a bombshell to the program, just weeks after the team’s celebrated postseason run, and leaves Head Coach Dawn Staley scrambling to adjust ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Paopao, a senior guard known for her poise, leadership, and deadeye shooting, was a vital piece of the Gamecocks’ recent success. After transferring to South Carolina from Oregon, Paopao quickly cemented herself as a key contributor, averaging 11.2 points, 3.5 assists, and shooting a blistering 44% from three-point range during the 2024 season. Her impact extended far beyond the stat sheet, often drawing the toughest defensive assignments and serving as a vocal leader in the locker room.
Now, with her name officially in the transfer portal, the Gamecocks are left with a massive void in both experience and production.
“I’m just as shocked as everyone else,” Head Coach Dawn Staley said in a brief statement. “Te-Hina has been an integral part of our team. We respect her decision and wish her the best moving forward, but no doubt—we’ll have to regroup.”
The reasons for Paopao’s departure remain unclear. Sources close to the program suggest that the decision was both “personal and complex,” with no immediate indicators of tension within the team. Paopao has yet to release a public statement, but speculation has already begun swirling around possible landing spots, with several top programs reportedly expressing interest within hours of the announcement.
The timing of the move raises several questions. With the transfer portal window nearing its close and South Carolina deep in preparations for summer workouts, the loss of a veteran guard could disrupt chemistry and alter the team’s trajectory. The Gamecocks, who have reloaded impressively through recruiting and transfers in recent years, will now likely be forced to lean more heavily on underclassmen or seek another late portal addition.
Fans took to social media in disbelief.
“Say it ain’t so, Te-Hina!” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “You were our clutch queen!”
For Staley, this marks yet another challenge in her already legendary coaching career. The Hall of Famer is known for her ability to adapt, but losing a senior leader so late in the offseason is uncharted territory even for her.
Paopao’s next destination is unknown, but what’s certain is that she leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, heart, and highlight-reel moments at Colonial Life Arena. Whether this chapter ends in South Carolina or begins anew elsewhere, her impact on the program won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
As the Gamecock faithful process the shock, one thing is clear: the 2025 season just got a lot more interesting.
