Princeton guard Kaitlyn Chen spent the last three basketball seasons with the Tigers, but will spend her last season with coach Geno Auriemma and the University of Connecticut Huskies.
Although coach Auriemma rarely picks up players from the transfer portal, the Hartford Courant reports that the Chinese American basketball star “made perfect sense for his team.”
Chen joins the Huskies with lots of experience under her belt. Last season, she averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. From the field she shot 48.8% and from 3-point range 32.8%.
While with Tigers coach Carla Berube, Chen earned first-team all-Ivy honors in 2023 and 2024. In 2023 she was Ivy League Player of the year and Most Outstanding Player at the last three conference tournaments.
However, the guard from San Marino, California was unable to play her final year at Princeton. Her freshman season (2020-2021) being canceled because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, different rules and regulations have altered her eligibility. According to ESPN, “Ivy League rules stipulate graduate students cannot participate in athletics.”
Former Princeton guard Kaitlyn Chen announced she has committed to UConn.
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) April 28, 2024
The Ivy League Player of the Year averaged 15.8 PTS and 4.9 AST per game this season.
(📸 kaitlyn.chen/IG) pic.twitter.com/esVtTdzd6m
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This is UConn’s newest selection from the transfer portal since Lou Lopez-Senechal in 2022. The former Fairfield University player earned first-team All-Big East honors in 2022-2023 and was eventually drafted by the Dallas Wings in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
Chen was not UConn’s only run-in with the transfer portal this year, but the Huskies also lost two players. Junior forward Amari DeBerry and sophomore guard Ines Bettencourt will not be returning to UConn for the 2024-2025 season. They also lost player Nika Muhl to the WNBA.
However, the 5-9 guard is anticipated to help alleviate these losses while joining the backcourt of experienced players. This includes 2021 National Player of the Year Paige Bueckers, KK Arnold, and Azzi Fudd.
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