Respect and Trust: How Kaitlyn Chen's Teams Keep Winning

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Princeton was up three with four minutes to go against Yale.

Abby Meyers launched a three, but it was off the mark.

Kaitlyn Chen, in the paint, jumped and tapped the ball to Ellie Mitchell who was surrounded by two opponents.

The ball eventually swung around and found Grace Stone, who drove by a defender and laid it in to put Princeton ahead, 47-42. Yale never got within a possession the rest of the way.

A winning play.

Chen knows a thing or two about winning. Her high school, Flintridge Prep, won nearly 100 games during her time there and went undefeated in conference action.

The Tigers have won 44 of their last 48 conference games and are currently on a seven-game winning streak.

What is the one similarity between Chen's high school team and Princeton squad?

"Respect," said the sophomore. "On my high school team, we respected each other and treated one another like equals. It wasn't just one person who was taking over. We got along really well and that's the same here, I can count on each one of my teammates."

Princeton has not lost in over a month and has not allowed more than 54 points to any opponent during its current stretch of victories.

The success of the team is not a surprise for Chen.

"I expected us to win a good number of games," said the point guard. "I think our roster is well balanced with great scorers in Abby (Meyers) and Julia (Cunningham) while Grace (Stone) and Ellie (Mitchell) work so hard and help keep us together on defense."

With the cancelation of the Ivy League's season last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chen was unsure about what the adjustment would be like for her coming into this year. She started as one of the top players coming off the bench before moving into the starting lineup. Since her first start, Chen is averaging 9.1 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.

"Playing with taller and quicker players and its quicker pace," said Chen noting the change to the collegiate game. "We also didn't do as much scouting in high school and the mental part of the game is important too."

Chen has had a great group of teammates to rely on as well. "Julia (Cunningham) and Maggie (Connolly) have been there for me for everything," said Chen.

Cunningham and Connolly lived in the apartment above Chen and Chet Nweke in the first semester of the 2020-21 academic year.

Her freshman campaign provided challenges as Chen lived with Nweke off-campus in the first semester with no practices. In the second semester, she stayed at school and had to balance practices and academics. Chen embraced the positive things she learned from the experience.

"It was really exciting," said the sophomore. "It was something I would definitely do again if I had the chance. I felt like it helped Chet (Nweke) and I form this special friendship. I felt like it was a good way to ease into our schoolwork. The first semester we were able to focus on academics. In the second semester, when we were on campus and practicing, we got to see the balance of practices and school fitting together. During that time, we were able to get close and know our coaches well since it was like four coaches and four of us.

Another positive development for Chen during that year … her relationships with her teammates.

"I feel like I'm really close with each of the captains," said Chen. "With them living above us last year and getting to know them even though they were on a gap year and being with Abby every day at practice last year that helped us form a special bond and that helps on the court. When you're so close with them off the court, you trust them on the court too."

That trust has paid off for the Tigers so far as they are 14-4 overall and 7-0 in the Ivy League. They welcome Cornell and Columbia to Jadwin next week.

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