I have been thinking of writing about Chicago Sky budding star Sydney Taylor for a couple of weeks now.
I waited too long. The buds have officially blossomed.
After Saturday, Aug. 1’s unbelievable performance against the Las Vegas Aces, now everybody knows about Sydney Taylor.
A 29-point scoring rage, topped off by a dramatic, deep 3-point shot at the buzzer to win the game for the Sky, has officially stamped Taylor as a full-fledged WNBA star.
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She did it in front of the home Chicago crowd and a nationally televised audience. She did it with the defense putting a hand right in her face, she did it from way behind the three point line, and she did it in response to what appeared to be a game-winning basket by Las Vegas star and the best player in the WNBA, A’ja Wilson.
But the point is… she did it! And truth be told, this unsung, unknown young player has been doing it all season long for our Chicago Sky.
What a Cinderella story she is. In the 2024 WNBA draft, exactly no one chose her after a stellar college career at a small school, University of Massachusetts Amherst, with her final year at Louisville.
While no WNBA team offered her a spot, Taylor kept her dream alive by playing overseas for a couple of years in both Poland and Lithuania.
Finally this year, the Sky team gave her a chance in training camp, and let’s just say—in one of the great understatements in recent sports history—they are glad they did!
Taylor made her mark immediately in practices, impressing both teammates and coaching staff, and not only made the roster for this year, but she received immediate playing time because of injuries to other guards—namely Sky star Courtney Vandersloot, who was still recovering from injury.
You could see right from the git go that Taylor had a little of that “something, something.” Or, as the late great ex-Bulls announcer Stacey King used to say, a little of that “special sauce.”
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She plays with a confidence and swagger. That is evident throughout her game. She is a rare three-level scorer—meaning she can shoot the three ball from distance, she can score driving to the basket, and she can pull up in the paint. A true triple threat, and to put the cherry on top, she is a fearless and tenacious defender.
As the season has progressed, more fans, as well as announcers, coaches, and opposing players have started to take notice. In fact, if it wasn’t for rookie sensation Olivia Miles, she might have been getting some rookie of the year mentions—this, again, coming from a player that was not even drafted!
But now? After the incredible buzzer-beating 3-point shot in front of a national TV audience, everybody knows about Sydney Taylor. Without question, both here in Chicago and in the WNBA world, a new star hath been born.
What a game! What a finish! What a shot! What a player Sydney Taylor is…and Chicago? She is all ours! (Insert smiley face.)
The Chicago Sky have now won their first two games since the all-star break, and will host games at the Wintrust Arena Monday against Phoenix and Wednesday against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Good seats still available, but they are going fast!