Atlanta Dream forward Brittney Griner did her best to help her rookie teammate, but to no avail.
Griner yelled out “screen” to first-year Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao on a play during the first quarter against the Indiana Fever in Thursday’s matchup.
But Paopao didn’t hear her and landed flat on her face.
It worked out for the rookie, though, as the play was called for an offensive foul due to a moving screen. Paopao suggested that it was her hope after initial contact.
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The rookie went through the incident with Clutch Points’ Malik Brown before Saturday’s game versus the Dallas Wings.
“I told her I didn’t hear her,” Paopao said. “But there were many pictures where she was like this [points finger to her ear].
“I was like, ‘No, I didn’t hear you.’ But at the same time, I was like being a little dramatic when I fell. But yeah, that screen was hard.”
Atlanta Dream forward Brittney Griner
© Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Women Hooping YouTube channel posted the replay of Paopao’s fall as a short.
The account referred to the play as the guard’s “welcome to the W” moment.
Paopao survived the hard screen versus the Fever, but the rookie guard suffered a facial injury Saturday versus the Wings. She exited the game after six minutes and didn’t return.
The rookie guard didn’t play Sunday versus the Connecticut Sun either.
The Dream selected Paopao with the No. 18 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft. Atlanta didn’t have a first-rounder, so the guard was Atlanta’s first selection in 2025.
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