The Phoenix Mercury just signed the rookie guard Celeste Taylor to a seven-day contract. Taylor will join the powerful Mercury team and play alongside the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi.
Taylor was originally drafted to the Indiana Fever in this year’s draft class as the 15th overall pick. While with the Fever, Taylor was only given limited minnutes on the court while the Fever were hoping to figure out their rotation’s. Despite the seven minutes Taylor’s was given on June 10th, against Connecticut Sun she was able to score 3 points and 1 block. Ultimately, after five games the Fever decided to waive the rookie guard.
After Taylor was waived from the Fever this wasn’t the last of her, On July 10th she announced on social media that she is now signed to Sydney Flames Basketball Club, an Australian professional basketball team.
“Trusting my journey, trust in the process and just being patient with myself,” WNBA Phoenix Mercury, Guard Celeste Taylor said.
During the rookie guard’s time in college she was a fierce competitor wherever she played. Splitting her four years between the University of Texas at Austin and Duke University where she also played under Kara Lawson and her Duke Blue devils. In her time at Duke and UT she won All-Big Twelve Freshman Team, and ACC Defensive Player of The Year.
In her final season she went to play for Ohio State University, where she averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Taylor became the Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year and Second Team All Big Ten this season
The former Ohio State Guard is known to run the floor with her great athleticism. Taylor’s defense is feared by opponents and is always remembered after playing her team.
“I watched this girl play the most tenacious D, because she was so angry after she lost,” said Alex Navarro. “On 14-year-old girls she didn’t give up a bucket and she might have had like 13 rebounds and she was nine. She was just beyond relentless.”
Celeste showed her outstanding defense when facing off against one of the top guards Caitlin Clark. Big Ten play kept Taylor on her toes when having to constantly play the talented Iowa Hawkeyes team.
Even though Taylor is well known for her defense, by the time she was with the Buckeyes, she became a big contributor to the offense.
“With Celeste, obviously, she’s got a reputation as an incredible defender. Well deserved,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. “People are really excited about what she can do at that end of the floor. The feedback heading into the season was a little more consistent offensive production, and as the season got into January, February, you started to see that.
She really helped herself.”
On Friday July 11th, Celeste Taylor will join the Mercury in a showdown against her old Fever team at 7:30 P.m. ET on ION.
Kierra Richardson is a Journalism student at Ohio State University desiring to work in sports media.
