UConn’s Kaitlyn Chen emotional as Princeton associate coach Lauren Battista surprises her team with “important roster update”

Kaitlyn Chen spent three years with the Princeton Tigers before moving to UConn for her senior year. On Friday, the guard shared with her fans a special update from her former team's associate coach, Lauren Battista, who revealed that there would be an addition to her family in June 2025.

Chen shared the photo of Battista's ultrasound, which was placed on a basketball along with a Tigers baby-sized shirt and shoes, to her Instagram story, with the message:

"LBGJ 🥺"

Chen special repost (Credits: Instagram/@kaitlyn.chen)

Lauren Battista's post included a video of her announcing the pregnancy to her players during team scout. Under the pretext of showing footage of a player, the coach included a photo of her ultrasound.

"An important roster update just in time for Ivy season 😉," Battista wrote in the caption. "We can’t wait to meet our little champ this June! 💙🩵"

Kaitlyn Chen's best season at Princeton was in her second year when she averaged 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists. She won the Ivy League Player of the Year, after leading the Tigers in points and assists.

Kaitlyn Chens earns praises from Princeton coach

The Tigers coach, Carla Berube, played for Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies from 1993 to 1997. In December, Berube was back in Hartford, Connecticut, to watch her former player, Kaitlyn Chen, play for her former coach.

In the Huskies' 79-44 win over Georgetown on Dec. 15, Chen put up solid defensive efforts and finished with three points, four rebounds and four assists. After witnessing her play, Berube spoke to CT Insider and said:

"It's great to watch her. I've watched a few of her games on TV but to see her makes me happy. I'm really proud of her and she's making a great impact out there.

"I was watching, but I'm still coaching over here. It was fun. Kaitlyn has always played with a lot of joy so it's great to see her play, great to see her happy and having a great time while also playing great basketball."

One of the highlights of Carla Berube's presence behind the UConn bench was that anytime Chen made a bad pass or fouled, she would receive a stern look from Geno Auriemma. However, after the game, he praised Berube and said:

"They have a special relationship, Kaitlyn and Carla. ... I have so much respect for Carla and what she's done, and I know that she's proud of Kaitlyn coming here and having the impact that she's had. I'm a big Carla Berube fan, obviously."

Kaitlyn Chen is averaging 6.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists. She will return to action on Sunday against Villanova.