The Asian American Athlete Project

The Asian American Athlete Project Advocating for the representation of and awareness towards Asian American athletes.

SPOTLIGHT: Kaitlyn Chen (Taiwanese-American basketball player, b. 2002)Kaitlyn Chen is a basketball player who grew up i...
03/11/2026

SPOTLIGHT: Kaitlyn Chen (Taiwanese-American basketball player, b. 2002)

Kaitlyn Chen is a basketball player who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she developed a love for the sport at a young age. She attended Flintridge Preparatory School in California, balancing demanding academics with her commitment to the sport. Despite not always being the most highly recruited player nationally, Chen built her reputation through hard work, strong leadership, and a high basketball IQ. Her persistence and steady improvement helped her earn a place at Princeton University, where she quickly proved she could compete at the highest levels of college basketball.
At Princeton, Chen became one of the most accomplished players in the program’s history. She earned Ivy League Player of the Year honors and was named the Ivy League Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player while helping lead Princeton to conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. Known for her clutch scoring, playmaking, and poise under pressure, Chen has delivered multiple game-winning performances and consistently ranked among the team leaders in points and assists. In 2025, Chen was drafted by the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA. Later that year, she signed a contract with the 3x3 Basketball Association and joined Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball, where she was named Newcomer of the Year in her first season.

SPOTLIGHT: Younghoe Koo (Korean-American football player, b. 1994)Younghoe Koo was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved...
03/09/2026

SPOTLIGHT: Younghoe Koo (Korean-American football player, b. 1994)
Younghoe Koo was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to the United States during childhood, growing up in New Jersey. He began playing football relatively late compared to many American-born players, but quickly excelled as a kicker in high school and college. After playing at Georgia Southern University, Koo faced setbacks early in his professional career when he was briefly released from his first NFL team. Instead of giving up, he continued training and competing in alternative leagues to refine his technique and regain confidence.
Koo eventually became one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers with the Atlanta Falcons. He has led the league in scoring and gained recognition for his accuracy on field goals and his unique ability to execute successful onside kicks. His consistent performance earned him a Pro Bowl selection and recognition as one of the top kickers in professional football.

SPOTLIGHT: Julie Chu (Chinese-American hockey player, b. 1982)Julie Chu grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she dev...
03/09/2026

SPOTLIGHT: Julie Chu (Chinese-American hockey player, b. 1982)
Julie Chu grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she developed a passion for hockey at a young age. Playing in a sport where opportunities for women were still developing, Chu committed herself to intensive training and competitive youth leagues. She later attended Harvard University, where she balanced rigorous academics with collegiate athletics while emerging as one of the most productive and decorated players in NCAA women’s hockey.
During her career, Chu became one of the most accomplished playmakers in the history of women’s college hockey. She finished her Harvard career as the program’s all-time leader in points and assists and went on to compete internationally for the United States. Chu is a two-time CWHL All-Star and captained her All-Star Team in 2016, becoming the first non-Canadian CWHL player to do so. She has won multiple Olympic medals and IIHF World Championship medals, contributing as both a skilled forward and team leader throughout her international career.

SPOTLIGHT: Steven Kwan (Chinese/Japanese-American baseball player, b. 1997)Steven Kwan was born and raised in the San Fr...
03/09/2026

SPOTLIGHT: Steven Kwan (Chinese/Japanese-American baseball player, b. 1997)
Steven Kwan was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and played college baseball at Oregon State University. Despite being known early for his discipline at the plate and defensive instincts, he was not initially viewed as a top prospect because of his size and power numbers. Through relentless work on contact hitting, fielding, and baseball IQ, Kwan developed into one of the most reliable hitters and defenders in the minor leagues before making his major-league debut.
Since joining the Cleveland Guardians in 2022, Kwan has established himself as one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. He quickly became a key contributor to the team thanks to his elite contact rate, plate discipline, and range in the outfield. Kwan has been selected to multiple MLB All-Star Games and has won Gold Glove Awards in each of his first four seasons, earning recognition as one of the premier defensive players in the league.

03/04/2026

In contemporary American society, Asian athletes do not receive the recognition that they deserve. For too long, their commitment to sports has been overlooked, and their performances have been undermined. Due to their race, American society decides too early that they don't belong in sports.

We seek to highlight the struggles, stories, and achievements of Asian American athletes, emphasizing the need for future generations not to be easily swayed from playing sports due to stereotypes and societal or cultural pressures. By sharing these stories, we want to make it so that future generations of Asian Americans increasingly participate and succeed in sports.

Representation is necessary, and Asian American athletes deserve to know that they belong in this field. We want to share the countless Asian Americans who are making names for themselves in sports that they are historically underrepresented in, and we want to encourage young Asian American athletes to break the mold.

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