Ivy League Star And National Champion Turned Underrated 2025 WNBA Draft Sleeper | The Boneyard

Ivy League Star And National Champion Turned Underrated 2025 WNBA Draft Sleeper

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Kaitlyn is a really interesting pick by the expansion Valkyries. She’s a homegrown CA girl with a national championship on her resume, who can certainly help to build fan interest in SF, particularly among the large Asian-American community.

Of course Kaitlyn has to make the team first, which is not a given for a 3rd round pick. But the Valkyries are not going to win any championships this coming season, so they can experiment some with their roster, perhaps opening up a spot for a smart, tough, spark plug pg with serious fan appeal.
 
I'm very happy for Kaitlyn. She was so under appreciated most of the season by numerous BYers, and then began demonstrating why Geno (the best ever) brought her in. I hope she shows the Valkyries why she can be such a valuable asset.
 
Golden State has a lot of unknowns as it currently stands. I like Kaitlyn’s chances at making the final roster.

I counted nine players who are likely to make the final cut, which gives them three spots. With Sellers likely making the final roster, I think Kaitlyn can get one of those last two spots.
 
Similar to many of the other transfers Geno has brought in, if there was one word to describe Chen its "fearless." Always moving at full speed, she was never afraid to take the big shot. Probably developed as much or more than anyone on roster, becoming more of a point guard after coming to UConn previously focused on creating offense.
 
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The average first round pick in the WNBA gets paid 78K. The average playing career is 3.5-5 years. With Kaitlyn's academic credentials, I wonder if she'd be better off skipping pro ball and beginning what should be a well-paying, long-lasting career.
 
Kat said:
The average first round pick in the WNBA gets paid 78K. The average playing career is 3.5-5 years. With Kaitlyn's academic credentials, I wonder if she'd be better off skipping pro ball and beginning what should be a well-paying, long-lasting career.
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First of all Kaitlyn wasn't selected in the 1st round and only the top four (4) picks will earn $78,831 in year 1. Kaitlyn was selected in the 3rd round and will earn $66,079 in year 1 if she makes the roster. Regardless, why do you care one way or the other whether she attempts to play pro ball or starts a business career? You're also assuming that she won't play in Europe as well, and perhaps earn an even better wage? People who love the game and enjoy playing it at the highest level, want to see if they have what it takes to do so. If they do, then the amount of money they earn is not that important. If they don't have what it takes, then they will start on a different journey. Again, why do you care???
 
Kat said:
The average first round pick in the WNBA gets paid 78K. The average playing career is 3.5-5 years. With Kaitlyn's academic credentials, I wonder if she'd be better off skipping pro ball and beginning what should be a well-paying, long-lasting career.
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A thought to ponder, but for these young athletes a good part of it is hopefully the journey and lifetime memories.
 
Just.A.Fan said:
First of all Kaitlyn wasn't selected in the 1st round and only the top four (4) picks will earn $78,831 in year 1. Kaitlyn was selected in the 3rd round and will earn $66,079 in year 1 if she makes the roster. Regardless, why do you care one way or the other whether she attempts to play pro ball or starts a business career? You're also assuming that she won't play in Europe as well, and perhaps earn an even better wage? People who love the game and enjoy playing it at the highest level, want to see if they have what it takes to do so. If they do, then the amount of money they earn is not that important. If they don't have what it takes, then they will start on a different journey. Again, why do you care???
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yeah folks seem to have a lot to say about how
the players should live their lives!!
never could understand that concept
 
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Kat said:
The average first round pick in the WNBA gets paid 78K. The average playing career is 3.5-5 years. With Kaitlyn's academic credentials, I wonder if she'd be better off skipping pro ball and beginning what should be a well-paying, long-lasting career.
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This is an opportunity to try to succeed as a pro in the best women’s league. If she passed it by, she could regret it for the rest of her life because she’d never have a chance to have the experience again. Looking back over my life, all of my biggest regrets begin with “I didn’t…try/go/risk/take/say…” something. It’s the opportunities we pass up that cause the greatest regrets.

Three to five years is nothing in a life that will probably be 100+ years for her generation

Finally, the 78k is for 5-6 months. Endorsements (she has some NIL contracts) and overseas play will guarantee a nice living.
 
While I expect Kaitlyn to give it her absolute best to earn a spot in the W, I think she was somewhat surprised to be drafted, and may not have been thinking at all about extending her basketball career. She was at the draft with her teammates to support Paige.

Her Princeton degree in Medical Anthropology lines up with several potential career paths in research, teaching and other fields. I would not be surprised if Kaitlyn was already planning her life after basketball when Cathy Engelbert called her name. Life is full of strange twists and turns.
 
oldude said:
Her Princeton degree in Medical Anthropology lines up with several potential career paths in research, teaching and other fields. I would not be surprised if Kaitlyn was already planning her life after basketball when Cathy Engelbert called her name. Life is full of strange twists and turns.
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It does take twists and turns, for sure. The unicorn life for her is that she can follow Bball for as long as she wants, then head in whatever direction she wants. One of the stellar old-time fiddlers on the planet with a Grammy under her belt graduated from Princeton with a degree in primate biology. A highly regarded banjo player (was on Springsteen's acoustic tour) has his doctorate in cell biology. Smart people get to pick their life, and hopefully she has a great career with the W for however long she wants.
 
I just wanted to point out that making it to the WNBA isn’t always the goal for someone with academic credentials as they have other options, perhaps more lucrative and long-term than being a WNBA player.
 
Zonepress said:
yeah folks seem to have a lot to say about how
the players should live their lives!!
never could understand that concept
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Thats why she came to UConn, she loves basketball and is not ready to quit. How many opportunities do you get to continue with something you truly love? She should take the chance to do whatever she wants, and then when the curtain closes, she can continue with her life in the real world with an Ivy League education, and not to mention a National Championship won't look bad on a resume either.
 
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Kat said:
I just wanted to point out that making it to the WNBA isn’t always the goal for someone with academic credentials as they have other options, perhaps more lucrative and long-term than being a WNBA player.
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And what makes you qualified to offer such advice? Unless your D1 level college career was mostly spent on the bench, it's safe to say most dream of a potential pro career (that doesn't necessary have to mean playing in the WNBA). I'm quite sure if Kaitlyn has ever read anything on the BY, she stopped ages ago. No one needs the amount of unjustified negatively thrown her way this season. And, with her academic credentials (although most in her position would not need them) she should be very capable of making the right decision for herself. She extended her college playing career by coming to UConn. Quite obviously she wanted to determine if she had the talent to play at the highest level of college ball. As she pointed out in a YouTube interview, she didn't expect to be drafted. So now she will make a decision based on so many variables you haven't begun to consider. At this point there is no guarantee of a WNBA career. If she decides to pursue a childhood dream, she must first make the roster!
 
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Dogdude said:
It does take twists and turns, for sure. The unicorn life for her is that she can follow Bball for as long as she wants, then head in whatever direction she wants. One of the stellar old-time fiddlers on the planet with a Grammy under her belt graduated from Princeton with a degree in primate biology. A highly regarded banjo player (was on Springsteen's acoustic tour) has his doctorate in cell biology. Smart people get to pick their life, and hopefully she has a great career with the W for however long she wants.
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Probably the most famous academic who successfully juggled multiple life's passions is Sir Doctor Brian May of Queen:
 
I’m one of those fools who walked the academic path with no detours and I can tell you I have lots of regrets. Can you imagine being introduced at parties as a former professional athlete and not merely as professor so-and-so? OMG!
 
I want(ed) her to stay an extra doctorate year......... :)
but G and we got a "free" (nil $ ??) All American-Pro type....fitting, even starting, and seamlessly, ... on a Final Four squad........
Thank you, Princeton, and WCBB, for Kaitlyn..... one of our Fab Four.....
 
Just.A.Fan said:
I'm very happy for Kaitlyn. She was so under appreciated most of the season by numerous BYers, and then began demonstrating why Geno (the best ever) brought her in. I hope she shows the Valkyries why she can be such a valuable asset.
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Always loved her play from first time I saw her leading Princeton. She could have scored a boatload more points if asked to do so.
 
Just.A.Fan said:
First of all Kaitlyn wasn't selected in the 1st round and only the top four (4) picks will earn $78,831 in year 1. Kaitlyn was selected in the 3rd round and will earn $66,079 in year 1 if she makes the roster. Regardless, why do you care one way or the other whether she attempts to play pro ball or starts a business career? You're also assuming that she won't play in Europe as well, and perhaps earn an even better wage? People who love the game and enjoy playing it at the highest level, want to see if they have what it takes to do so. If they do, then the amount of money they earn is not that important. If they don't have what it takes, then they will start on a different journey. Again, why do you care???
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like u cannot understand
 
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