UConn point guard Kaitlyn Chen selected No. 30 in 2025 WNBA draft by Valkyries

Emily Adams, Hartford Courant on Apr 14, 2025

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NEW YORK — After helping UConn to its 12th NCAA Championship in her lone season as a graduate transfer, point guard Kaitlyn Chen was selected No. 30 overall in the WNBA draft by the Golden State Valkyries on Monday night.

Chen wasn’t invited to the draft but was pulled out of the audience where she was in attendance to support Huskies teammate and No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers. She is the 49th WNBA draft pick in program history, and joins a roster in Golden State that already includes UConn alum Tiffany Hayes.

“It’s honestly still a little bit of shock. It’s all a little overwhelming,” Chen said. “I was really just here to wait Paige get drafted, and I’m so happy for her, but it’s been an unreal night.”

Chen continues a growing trend of former Ivy League standouts in the WNBA, becoming the fourth player drafted in the last two years after playing in the conference. The 5-foot-9 point guard began her college career at Princeton and led the Tigers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances averaging 15.8 points, 4.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds in her senior season. She was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2023 and won Ivy League Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award every year from 2022-24. Harvard star Harmoni Turner was drafted five picks behind Chen by the Las Vegas Aces in the third round.

“Harmoni is an amazing player, super talented, and she always has been since we played each other in my sophomore year,” Chen said. “I think it just says a lot about the Ivy League and how competitive it is as a conference and how great players are able to get a great education but also (be part of) a really great and successful basketball team.”

Chen played a more traditional point guard role at UConn in 2024-25 behind the superstar trio of Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, averaging 6.9 points and 3.4 assists shooting a career-best 51.4% from the field in 23.4 minutes per game. Chen saw dramatic improvement as a 3-point shooter this season hitting 35.4% at UConn after averaging 29.3% in her Princeton career, and she took an almost identical number of attempts per game despite playing far fewer minutes.

The Valkyries are set to play their debut season in the WNBA this year after joining the league as its first expansion franchise since 2008. The team selected Lithuanian forward Juste Jocyte with its first-ever draft pick at No. 5 overall, and it added Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers in the second round. Chen is from San Marino, Calif., and will return to her home state to begin her professional basketball career.

“It’s really exciting because my parents have been through so much with me, and they’ve been there every step of the way,” Chen said. “I know that red-eye across the country to the East coast is not the easiest, so I’m glad it’ll be an hour flight for them instead of five. It means a lot to be able to go back to the West coast.”

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