Sydney Taylor Continues to Shine with Career-High Performance

 

In the Chicago Sky's final game before WNBA All-Star Weekend, rookie guard Sydney Taylor proved being undrafted says nothing about your ability to compete with the best in the world.

The Growth Behind Taylor's Breakout

An undrafted rookie out of Louisville, Sydney Taylor has been looking to prove herself as a competitor in the WNBA since day one. After being invited to their training camp in April of 2026, the Chicago Sky would go on to sign Sydney Taylor as they saw her potential. To start the season, many were unsure of how far Taylor's impact could go due to the fact that she was playing behind some of the league's most elite guards in Skylar Diggins, DiJonai Carrington, and Natasha Cloud. Not to mention she would also be competing with 2026 Fifth-Overall Pick, Gabriela Jaquez for playing time. In Chicago's second and final preseason game, Sydney Taylor showed great potential in her 23-point performance shooting nearly 54% from the field. This not only gave the Chicago Sky's front office hope that they made the right choice in signing Taylor, but confidence in their future down the line. Prior to her standout performance, Taylor would shock the women's basketball world and break records including holding the highest points per game average from an undrafted rookie when she began to average 13.5 ppg. Although she started the season considerably slower than she has played in recent weeks, it was likely just the fact that she was adapting to the new and much more physical style of play found in the W. A versatile guard, Taylor shows confidence when taking the ball to the basket while also shooting a commendable average of approximately 30% from behind the arc.

A Career Night for Syndey Taylor

Coming into the Chicago Sky's matchup with the New York Liberty, Sydney Taylor had already recorded several 20-point games and a career-high 30-point game just over a month prior to this matchup today, July 22, 2026. Facing off against a dominant big three in New York's Breann Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu, the Chicago Sky were major underdogs. Although the Sky lost by 1 point in a 95-94 battle, there's truly only one player to thank for keeping this matchup tight and that's Sydney Taylor. Due to the sidelining of Skylar Diggins and DiJonai Carrington, Taylor would start in this contest with the Liberty. Starting hot off the jump, Taylor got to work and poured in points for the Sky with 12 points in the first quarter alone. That said, the Liberty caught on to Taylor's success and only allowed her to contribute 2 points in the second quarter. Taylor would start the third quarter strong by pushing the pace for breakaway layups as well as torching the Liberty from midrange with her floaters, though she would sit for the final four minutes in the third. Looking to maintain and even increase their 1-point lead over New York, Taylor would enter the matchup for Chicago at the start of the final quarter. Taylor would capitalize on the Liberty's tight coverage on herself and make beautiful passes for 2 early assists in the fourth. Taylor would also contribute 9 points of her own, but Taylor's personal success was not enough for the Sky to come out victorious as they lost 94-95. Regardless of the outcome, it was clear that when Sydney Taylor is hot, it's hard for even one of the best cores in the WNBA (New York Liberty's Jones, Stewart, and Ionescu) to stop her. Topping her previous career-high of 30 points, Taylor recorded 31 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Chicago Sky on nearly 53% from the field and 57% from three. This exceptional outing from Taylor shows not only that she can help the Sky compete with one of the best teams in the league, but also that she's here to stay in the WNBA herself.

Why Taylor's Emergence Matters to the Sky

Because the Chicago Sky have experienced several injuries and incidents that have sidelined several of their stars, Sydney Taylor has had numerous opportunities to find her own success. From Rickea Jackson's season ending ACL tear to the week-to-week status of Skylar Diggins to the extended absence of DiJonai Carrington due to a lingering foot injury, Taylor has had to step up in ways many would not typically expect out of undrafted rookies. That said, Taylor has been nothing but consistent for the Sky. Averaging the most by an undrafted rookie in WNBA history, Chicago can not only count on Taylor to score in double figures but also play her heart out with her incredible work ethic and determination. Not to mention Taylor has adapted to her new team so well as she pairs beautifully with fellow rookie guard, Gabriela Jaquez's IQ and young veteran in the making, Kamilla Cardoso's dominance in the post. Nonetheless, Taylor is fitting into the Chicago Sky's needs as well as play style perfectly as she continues to find success on the court.

Can Sydney Taylor Keep the Momentum Going?

Considering that the Chicago Sky have played their final game in the first half of the season, it is likely that they will look to turn around their season as best as they can in the second half. Sitting at a 9-18 record, one can only hope that it is only up from here. With the recent success of Sydney Taylor, Chicago does seem to have a little more hope as they look to continue to find success and gel as a team. Although a playoff push is not necessarily realistic at the moment, seeing players like Sydney Taylor, Kamilla Cardoso, and Gabriela Jaquez excel in their own ways is the next best thing. The Chicago Sky will start the second half of the 2026 WNBA season facing off against the Connecticut Sun. This matchup with the Sun is not only the start of a 5-game homestand, but also a winable game for the Sky. Having their own levels of struggles, the Sun's major threats are Brittney Griner and Leila Lacan, two players that match up well with the Sky's Kamilla Cardoso and Gabriela Jaquez/Sydney Taylor. If players like Cardoso, Jaquez, and Taylor can get hot and find their groove, the Chicago Sky have a great chance of taking their tenth victory this season against the Connecticut Sun. Will Syndey Taylor continue to find success and help lead the Sky to a strong start on their 5-game homestand and get a win against the Sun?