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Kaitlyn Chen, a Tiger, is transferring to UConn.

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Senior guard and captain Kaitlyn Chen will be bringing her skills to the Constitution State after three years of shining brightly at Jadwin Gym.

Player in black and orange Princeton uniform dribbles ball up basketball court.

The talented senior declared on Sunday that she would play basketball at the University of Connecticut during her final year of eligibility. Chen will join a UConn squad that is coming off a Final Four run in 2023–24, where he will play with players Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd under the famed coaching of Geno Auriemma.

Chen had her pick of schools after receiving offers from prestigious programs around the nation, and she didn’t waste any time in the transfer procedure.

“When she had free time this season, she was watching a lot of games and doing her homework about these programs, coaches, and teams.” Carla, the head coach

Berube stated to The Princetonian Daily. “We simply discussed the issues and determined what was crucial to this decision.”

Since graduate students are not allowed to play varsity sports in the Ivy League, Chen and other exceptional senior athletes who still have eligibility must play their final year of university athletics somewhere else.

In contrast to this, players have been switching schools more frequently in recent years using the transfer portal.

“The Ivy League grad year is very different from regular student athletes submitting a transfer request through the portal when they wish to leave their school,” Berube stated to the “Prince.” “Kaitlyn would have stayed here, had she been able to.”

Chen has emerged as a highly

renowned athletes to call Jadwin Gym home, and her influence will last a long time. The Tigers went 74–16 during her three years as a player at Princeton, captured three Ivy League championships, participated in two March Madness tournaments, and consistently placed in the national Top 25.
As the “floor general” for Carla Berube’s team, Chen has averaged 14.2 points per game during her time at Princeton. She also ranks in the top ten all-time in several Princeton basketball statistics. Chen’s postseason accomplishments include two consecutive First-Team All-Ivy titles, three consecutive Ivy League Tournament Most Valuable Player trophies, and a 2024 WBCA Honorable Mention All-America selection.

“Kaitlyn works the hardest and competes every day,” Berube continued. “She is modeling representation for our younger players.”

our wonderful [U]niversity, how to be a great leader and a great colleague.

Chen, a guard with a bright light, will look to follow in the footsteps of Nika Mühl, a defensive wizard who limited Iowa star Caitlin Clark to just 21 points in the Final Four and WNBA second-round draft pick.

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Berube continued, “[Kaitlyn] was not just a distributor; she’s also a good scorer as well as a great defender.” “She plays with a lot of fire, so I think she can bring the same sort of presence.”

Chen can anticipate using the same coaching methods that she was trained in under Jadwin in Connecticut. Berube, the possessor of

played under Auriemma in the mid-1990s, assisted Chen in becoming the dominant player she is now, and is said to be among the front-runners for the UConn head coaching position upon Auriemma’s retirement. Berube is understandably happy that Chen will be returning to her alma mater.

“Beyond everything, that served as my home,” Berube stated. “It’s a place that I trust, and I’m really happy for her that she felt that way, that [UConn] was home for her,” said the third coach, who was also my coach at the time. Another coach is a good friend.

With Chen joining the team, UConn is anticipated to be among the best in the nation and to compete for

a title for the country. Chen’s objective has evolved from the Orange Bubble to include bringing a national championship trophy to the lowly Storrs. She has come to expect to bring Ivy trophies back to Old Nassau.

Berube declared, “She’s going out as one of the best Princeton basketball players to ever don the orange and black.” “I’m thrilled for her upcoming year and incredibly proud of her.”

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