Mere minutes before the Washington Mystics took the floor with 4,200 rowdy fans at their backs, their commentators made mention of the energy inside CareFirst Arena being “palpable.” Though, for anyone with selective hearing, a little creativity, and some knowledge of what the Atlanta Dream’s No. 18 pick would bring, perhaps an even better word came to mind: “Paopao-able.” Bringing smiles and lively highlights in abundance during her first game in A-Town’s red-and-black, Te-Hina Paopao enjoyed a particularly-standout string of plays, starting with a padlock of Washington’s pass-and-cut attempt. Recognizing the potential number’s advantage in transition if she works quickly enough, Paopao handles the task with craft, evading Sika Koné with a Eurostep alongside a soft-touch finish. Two months removed from raising the National Title as a Gamecock, Paopao — even in a narrow loss to the new-look Mystics — supplied Atlanta with winning plays, offering a seven-point, three-rebound, four-assist, one-steal, one-triple finish in her WNBA debut. · May 16, 2025