Kaitlyn Chen on Her Journey From Princeton to Ballhalla, Staying Aggressive, and Forging Her Own Identity
Bird's Eye View with Sue BirdShow Notes
In this episode, Sue chats with Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen (who happened to be calling in using her backcourt partner Veronica Burton’s iPad!). Entering her second WNBA season, Kaitlyn reflects on her unique path to the pros—from anchoring a dominant program at Princeton to playing a more strategic role on UConn’s championship team alongside Paige and Azzi, and navigating the emotional roller coaster of her rookie WNBA season.Kaitlyn shares what it means to be the first Taiwanese-American player in the WNBA, playing under the league's first Japanese-American head coach, Natalie Nakase, while embracing the passionate Bay Area fan base. She also breaks down how she handles the fast-changing business of the league, finding her voice as a leader, and maintaining an aggressive edge on the court against the “talls.”
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