“It’s very big in our (Samoan) culture that we have to do everything together, and love doing it and genuine care for each other. We’re a really close-knit family. I love them to death,” said Te-Hina Paopao during an interview back in November 2023. Over the years, college basketball fans have gotten to know the 22-year-old as the player with noticeable defensive skills and strong presence on the defensive front. Thanks to her 5 years’ worth of experience in college basketball, and her dominating performance during the Gamecocks’ 64-53 win over Indiana in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, Paopao has even become a member of the Gamecocks’ ‘seat belt gang.’ Outside of the court, however, Paopao is part of a closely knit family, whose competitive spirit allowed the player to become who she is today.
Therefore, without any further ado, let us get to know more about this special family.
Who are Te-Hina Paopao’s parents? What do they do?
Te-Hina Paopao was reportedly born back in August 21st, 2002, at Oceanside, California, to Paul Paopao and Diana. Paul Paopao is reportedly an American national. However, Te-Hina Paopao is of Samoan and Tokelauan heritage, as US Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata highlighted back in April 2024. This means that Paul also holds either the Samoan or Tokelauan heritage, or both.
The Paopao family is one that has been described as a sports-oriented household. It is not clear whether Paul himself pursued sports during his younger days. However, after Te-Hina started becoming fully immersed in basketball back in middle school, her father was there from the start to prepare her for the journey ahead. When she was simply the age of 8, Te-Hina’s father Paul told her, she’d have to make sacrifices. Te-Hina reportedly never flinched.
“There was no fear,” Paul Paopao said in an interview with The State. “She actually embraced it. That was learned through her brothers.”
Te-Hina Paopao comes from a football family and used to join her brother’s workouts at 4 a.m.
“It wasn’t really motivation on my part. It was really my dad telling me to get up and something at 7 years old.”
pic.twitter.com/PRHiIGa4Y8
— Isabel Gonzalez (@cisabelg) January 16, 2025
Paul continued supporting his daughter as she transitioned to college basketball. He was especially in a state of bewilderment upon learning that Te-Hina was on the South Carolina Gamecocks’ radar. When Paul was on the phone with the team’s head coach Dawn Staley, he had to confirm who he was talking to. This led to him saying, “Coach, I just need to make sure this is really you. This the real Coach Dawn Staley?” Paul continued cheering on his daughter as she progressed through her college career. He went viral back in March 2024 for reacting with a fist-pump to a 3-point shot Te-Hina made during the Gamecocks’ 2024 NCAA run.
Does Te-Hina Paopao have any siblings?
Fortunately, the competitive spirit in the family wasn’t solely focused on just one individual. It was spread out between Te-Hina Paopao and her 4 other siblings. Te-Hina has 2 elder brothers, Israel and Isaia, an older sister, Tiare, and a younger brother, Iosefa Paopao Meinke-Aviu. While all of the boys played football, Tiare looked to make a name for herself through softball.
According to AOL, each of the siblings knew how to compete and would not let Te-Hina have anything without a fight. Despite that, they kept showing affection to each other through gestures. Te-Hina’s sister, Tiare, named her daughter after the Gamecocks’ star. When Te-Hina moved to Eugune, Oregon for college, Israel moved too. When she moved to Columbia, Israel came there too, and so did Isaia. Being in the same city, the trio tried to meet for dinner at least once a week, which was also Isaia’s “cheat” meal.
“We keep that family bond tight,” said Israel. “We’re so used to being together at home at nighttime that those little dinners, they keep us together.”
Who is Te-Hina Paopao’s uncle? Was he in the NFL?
It wasn’t just the younger siblings who made a mark in the world of sports. Te-Hina’s uncle just happens to be the one and only Joe Salave’a, who served at the Defensive tackle position for 9 seasons in the NFL, between 1998 and 2006.
During his pro career, Joe played for 4 different teams. He was drafted in 1998 by the Tennessee Oilers / Titans. As the Titans reached the Super Bowl XXXIV (2000), Joe was able to appear as a substitute. In 2003, he was signed by the Baltimore Ravens, but was switched to the San Diego Chargers that same year. Joe’s breakthrough year reportedly came in 2004, with the Washington Redskins, after he registered 30 tackles and two sacks. The next year, he started in 13 games and had 50 tackles, a half-sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. His contributions helped the team reach its first playoff appearance of the decade.
Throwback. Joe Salave’a pic.twitter.com/4t3kRnV5CC
— Disco (@discoque90) October 19, 2024
After being released by the Redskins on August 2007, Joe went on to establish a career as a college football coach. According to the Arizona Wildcats’ official page, Joe Salave’a today serves as the team’s Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, Te-Hina’s cousin just so happens to be softball player Megan Faraimo. Faraimo won the gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham World Games, and silver at the 2024 Castions di Strada World Cup.
With so many examples around her, it is no surprise that Te-Hina got influenced enough to become who she is today.
SH4: What is Te-Hina Paopao’s parents’ nationality?
According to reports, Te-Hina Paopao’s father, Paul Paopao, is an American national. However, there are no credible sources that highlight anything about her mother, Diana.
The South Carolina Gamecocks will next face the Texas Longhorns. One final obstacle stood before the team could reach the championship game, secure a win there, and become NCAA champions for the 2nd consecutive year. The expectations are riding high on Dawn Staley’s roster. Whether they, and Te-Hina Paopao, will deliver is something that remains to be seen.
The post Who are Te-Hina Paopao’s Parents? Everything You Need to Know About South Carolina Star’s Family Life appeared first on EssentiallySports.
