TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) on Monday made history again by becoming the first Taiwanese American to be selected in the WNBA draft. 

As a member of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team that claimed its 12th national title last week, Chen made history as the first player of Taiwanese descent to win an NCAA women's basketball championship. Monday, Chen helped UConn continue its winning streak at the WNBA Draft by being one of three members of the team to get selected, per UDN.

Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick, joining the Dallas Wings, while Chen and Aubrey Griffin were both selected in the third round. It is the 17th time in program history that multiple players were drafted in a single WNBA Draft.

Chen was drafted 30th overall by the Golden State Valkyries, a newly established team joining the WNBA for the 2025 season. Aubrey Griffin was selected 36th by the Minnesota Lynx.

Although Chen was born and raised in San Marino, California, her parents are Taiwanese immigrants. She previously attended Princeton University, where she was a three-time Most Outstanding Player of the Ivy League Tournament and the 2023 Ivy League Player of the Year. 

Last year, she transferred to UConn, where the 175 cm point guard contributed “her poise, leadership, and playmaking abilities” to the Huskies, per CT Insider. Chen will graduate this May from UConn with a master’s degree in sports management.

Originally consisting of 12 teams, the WNBA will expand to 13 teams this season with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries. The draft consisted of three rounds, with 38 players selected.