The day earlier than the 2024 WNBA Draft, future second-round choose Celeste Taylor was with us at SLAM HQ, reminiscing about her childhood recollections of going to New York Liberty video games along with her dad. It was throughout these moments when she received to see legends, champions and MVPs like Sugar Rodgers, Essence Carson, Cappie Pondexter and Tina Charles, and, as a ball lady, received the prospect to rebound for Skylar Diggins-Smith and Candace Parker once they got here to city.
“I believe that’s quite a lot of the place I discovered a love for the sport,” Taylor tells us. “Simply seeing them compete and get after it each evening–as I received older, [it was] Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Grey. [I was] capable of see ladies be actually profitable of their occupation.”
For Taylor, the truth that she’s enjoying in the identical League as these she’s all the time admired is surreal. The previous 2023 ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr–who averaged 10.1 factors and three.4 assists after transferring to Ohio State for her fifth yr–is aware of she has loads to be taught if she desires to raise her sport on the subsequent stage. “The very first thing that involves thoughts is simply how loopy it’s, and the way loopy it will likely be to see folks that you simply noticed enjoying once you had been little proper in entrance of you. To both be enjoying subsequent to them or towards them, I imply, it’s simply actually thrilling and funky, actually.”
When requested if she’s prepared to carry her personal, Taylor doesn’t hesitate. “I’m.”
Pictures through Getty Pictures. Portrait by Evan Bernstein.
