Kaitlyn Chen ’24 made history by becoming the first alumna of Princeton women’s basketball to win a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) championship on Saturday night.
Chen joins Harvard alumna Temi Fagbenle as the only Ivy League players to win a WNBA Championship. Chen also joins Bill Bradley ’65 as the only two University basketball players to ever win a professional championship.
Chen was the starting point guard all three years she played as a Tiger, averaging 14.2 points per game, while collecting accolades along the way. She was crowned Ivy League Player of the Year in 2023, was named Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player all three years of her Princeton career, and was named a 2024 Honorable Mention All-American.
Princeton women’s basketball Head Coach Lauren Gosselin was an assistant coach during Chen’s years as a Tiger. Reflecting on Chen’s success, Gosselin wrote, “The skills and leadership she developed during her time at Princeton transitioned seamlessly to UConn and now the WNBA. She is so easy to root for because of the person she is and the work ethic she has,” in a statement to The Daily Princetonian.
After leading the Tigers to three regular-season and tournament championships each and winning two NCAA tournament games, Chen decided to use her fifth and final year of eligibility in Storrs, Conn.
Arriving at the University of Connecticut for the 2024–25 season, Chen averaged more than 20 minutes, nearly seven points, and 3.5 assists per game. Her impact helped the Huskies break a 9-year drought and win the program’s first NCAA championship since 2016, making her the first Princeton women’s basketball alumna to ever win a national championship.
Drafted in the third round with the 30th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft by the Golden State Valkyries, Chen was the third Tiger drafted in the history of the league, alongside Abby Meyers ’22 and Bella Alarie ’20. While ESPN and SB Nation’s final mock drafts didn’t select Chen in any of the three rounds, she defied the odds and returned to her home state to play for the Valkyries.
Soon after training camp and a couple of preseason games, Chen was waived from the tight 12-player roster in May 2025. About a month later, Chen was re-signed by the Valkyries, becoming the first player of Taiwanese descent in the WNBA.
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Chen’s tendency to make history fits right in with the Valkyries, who have become the quickest expansion franchise to win a championship. The Valkyries played their inaugural season in 2025, with head coach Natalie Nakase leading the charge.
This season, Chen averaged just over 15 minutes, seven points, and almost two assists per game, serving as a reliable bench player for the Valkyries and earning herself a spot in conversations for 2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year.
Chen checked into every game of the seven-game WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream, averaging 2.5 points and just over one assist per game.
“The joy that she plays with is contagious. The whole Princeton Basketball community is incredibly proud of her!,” Gosselin wrote.
Chen kept the energy and excitement high, arriving at Saturday’s Halloween Game 7 in San Francisco in a hot dog costume and holding a trophy above her head for the second year in a row.
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Cynthia Torres is a senior News writer and Archives contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from New Bedford, Mass., and can be reached at ctorres[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.