Kaitlyn Chen ’24 Drafted By the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries

Kaitlyn Chen ’24 was selected by the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries April 14, making her the fourth Princetonian and the ninth Ivy Leaguer to be drafted by the league. The Valkyries are the WNBA’s first expansion team since the Dallas Wings in 2016. 

“I think it’s really special to be a part of that, especially because so many people have poured so much into making this happen. And to be the first draftees of this team is really special,” Chen said at an introductory news conference in mid-April.

Just a week earlier, Chen became the first Princeton women’s basketball transfer to win a national championship. At Princeton, Chen was a three-time Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player and majored in anthropology. She used her final year of NCAA eligibility to play for the University of Connecticut as a graduate transfer (11.9 points, 3 rebounds, 3.8 assists). 

At UConn, Chen started most of the season for the Huskies alongside women’s basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. Surrounded by some of the biggest talents in the sport, Chen played the role of a “glue” player, getting the ball to the team’s top scorers and driving to the basket in games when the team needed it most.  

Now, Chen will suit up for an intense preseason training camp, where her performance will dictate whether she earns a place on the Valkyries’ roster. 

“To have this much support coming into a league this tough means a lot,” Chen said.

Chen credits Princeton head coach Carla Berube and UConn’s Geno Auriemma with her success.

“I feel like I’ve learned so much from both my coaches, I wouldn’t be here without either of them, Chen said. “They both helped me grow on the court tremendously and mentally too. And playing at UConn, playing under all the pressure and expectations has prepared me mentally to take on this challenge.”

Chen is also the first Taiwanese-American to be drafted into the WNBA. 

“I think it’s really special that I’m able to be in this position,” she said. “I feel like growing up there haven’t been a ton of Asian American athletes playing at the highest level and to be able to sort of be that role model for younger Asian Americans and Asians in general is definitely really special.”