Sydney Taylor gives the Sky something to think about
Before the Sky’s preseason matchup against the Dream, most fans had no clue who Sydney Taylor was.
They do now.
Her second-half scoring burst brought a sleepy Wintrust Arena back to life.
The young guard entered the game in attack mode, breaking down defenders and scoring at every level. She finished with 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting — almost as many points as the entire Sky team scored in the first half.
"What you saw today is what she does," coach Tyler Marsh said. "She can light it up quickly. Everyone could use a scorer like that. She has no fear. She believes every shot is going in."
Taylor's buckets came against Dream reserves Wednesday night. But her performance throughout training camp has showed how her speed, handle and shooting translate to the WNBA.
"I just got my opportunity," Taylor said. "I'm grateful to be here, I'm grateful I got the opportunity to go out there."
Taylor played college ball at the University of Massachusetts, a mid-major program, before transferring to Louisville for her final season. She went undrafted in 2024, then played professionally first in Lithuania, then Poland.
She believes overseas competition helped prepare her to adapt to a faster pace of play — and toughened her up.
"Overseas is an experience," Taylor said. "You really have to love the game of basketball to go seven months away from family. You don't have a lot of resources, you don't have a lot of recovery. I think it makes you a little more tough."
This offseason, the Sky front office was hunting for athletic shooting guards who had been productive overseas. Taylor stood out. She averaged 22.7 points per game on 40.8% shooting from 3-point range with her Polish club, though that percentage dipped to 32.6% in EuroCup play.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca contacted Taylor's agent right after her club season ended.
"It's my first training camp, so I said, sign me up," Taylor said.
In her first few days in Chicago, Taylor admitted she was starstruck by veteran guards Skylar Diggins and Courtney Vandersloot, players she grew up watching. But she has impressed Marsh throughout camp with her shot-making and confidence.
"Been doubted my whole life," Taylor said after her preseason breakout. "'Mid-major, she can't do it, didn't get drafted, still can't do it.' There's so many doubters, so many haters — just trying to prove them wrong."
Taylor survived the first wave of training camp cuts, as the Sky have waived Jordan Hobbs, Megan Nestor and Sidney Cooks over the last several days. The final two roster spots will come down to six players: Taylor, Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld, Aicha Coulibaly, Latasha Lattimore and Tonie Morgan.
Van Lith and Westbeld should have the inside track given their year of experience with the team, but nothing is set in stone. The front office wanted the final decisions to be difficult, and Taylor is making sure they are.
The team also has two developmental roster spots available, which Taylor said she would be open to. The catch: the new system is designed to benefit players, not teams. The Sky would have to waive her first — giving another team the chance to claim her for a full roster spot. And if signed to a developmental deal, she could still be poached by another franchise offering a full spot at any point.
Marsh said it himself: many teams could use a scorer like Taylor. She has until May 7, the date final rosters are due, to make sure he doesn’t forget that.