A Year Into Her Pro Career, Kea Looks Back

Paris Kea still remembers the moment she officially became a WNBA Draft pick. On April 10, 2019, coming off an outstanding senior season at UNC, Kea gathered with family, friends and North Carolina women's basketball teammates at Ham's, a favorite restaurant in her hometown of Greensboro, N.C.

She had a nerve-racking wait through two rounds before finally hearing her name called, 25^th overall by the Indiana Fever, at which point the watch party erupted in cheers.

"It was absolutely one of best feelings, nothing short of a dream come true," Kea said a year later, looking back on the experience Thursday on the eve of this year's WNBA Draft. "It was a reflection of all the work I'd put in, playing in front yard with my mom and pops and little bro, all the work in high school and at UNC, the whole process."

For Kea, the transition to the WNBA brought the need to adjust to a new position: after playing everything except the five spot for the Tar Heels, she's a full-time point guard for the Fever.

Last season she appeared in 11 games, with 2.6 points per game in an average of 5.5 minutes. "At the pro level the game is definitely more mental," she said. "It's more about reads, because everyone is athletic."

Check out a highlight from Kea's rookie season here.

Kea spent the WNBA off-season playing for a team in Moscow, an experience that was challenging but that she loved. The season was cut short by the pandemic, and she's been back home in Greensboro since March. She's staying in shape, shooting at her home court and watching film of some of the league's top point guards as she continues to settle into that position.

Her advice to current Tar Heels hoping to reach the WNBA some day? Keep working hard.

"Don't be afraid to push yourself," Kea said. "Sometimes in the game I may have held myself back. I would be too nervous to try a different move or take a shot. I didn't always feel like I was playing as confidently as I should be and pushing myself past my limits. It's good to be uncomfortable. If you're pushing yourself in practice every day, pushing your teammates in practice, you have no choice but to get better."

Players Mentioned

Paris Kea

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