The day earlier than the 2024 WNBA Draft, future second-round decide Celeste Taylor was with us at SLAM HQ, reminiscing about her childhood recollections of going to New York Liberty video games together 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 possibility to rebound for Skylar Diggins-Smith and Candace Parker after 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 night time–as I received older, [it was] Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Grey. [I was] in a position to see girls be actually profitable of their occupation.”
For Taylor, the truth that she’s taking part in in the identical League as these she’s at all times admired is surreal. The previous 2023 ACC Defensive Participant of the 12 months–who averaged 10.1 factors and three.4 assists after transferring to Ohio State for her fifth 12 months–is aware of she has rather a lot to be taught if she desires to raise her recreation on the subsequent stage. “The very first thing that involves thoughts is simply how loopy it’s, and the way loopy it is going to be to see individuals that you just noticed taking part in while you had been little proper in entrance of you. To both be taking part in subsequent to them or in opposition to 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.”
Photographs by way of Getty Pictures. Portrait by Evan Bernstein.