It's no secret the Chicago Sky are in need of some shooting help.
The Sky ended last season as the ninth-ranked WNBA team in 3-point shooting percentage. They attempted the fewest 3-pointers and the smallest percentage of their points come from the 3-point line in the league. Only three players, including a mid-season acquisition in guard Rachel Banham, shot above 35% from beyond the arc with over two attempts per game during the 2024 season.
Banham showcased her shooting potential in the 16 games she suited up for the Sky with eight games at 40% or more from long range. She will be under contract for the 2025 season, but will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Neither of Chicago's other two guards under contract shot at a high level or a high rate. The duo of Lindsay Allen and Moriah Jefferson shot a combined total of 1.9 3-pointers per game last season.
Is South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao the reliable shooting option the Sky need in the 2025 WNBA Draft?
Paopao, a senior guard for last year's NCAA Champions, is leading the No. 2-ranked team in points per game with 11.3. She is logging her third-straight season with 40% or more from the 3-point line. She has hit 40% or more of her long-range shots seven times in 12 games this season, including in a loss to UCLA that saw her hit all four of her attempts. The 5-foot-9 guard was a 3-point machine during South Carolina's championship run last season. Her stellar 3-point shooting continued into the postseason, where she would hit 45.2% of her shots from 3-point range and play a pivotal role in completing an undefeated season for South Carolina.
South Carolina as a whole hit eight of their 12 3-pointers in their loss to UCLA. Paopao looked comfortable as a catch-and-shoot option in South Carolina's matchup at Pauley Pavilion. Her quick release paved the way for a long-range make over Bruins guard Londynn Jones in the first quarter. She may need to work on her inside shooting and finishing before she makes the leap to the W, but her 3-point shot can be something to keep an eye on as the season goes on.
If she can be paired with a solid passing guard who can find her on the perimeter or if Chicago's bigs can grow as playmakers from the post, Paopao could be an option the Sky could look out for with their later first-round selection in this year's draft.