Sydney Taylor, in her rookie WNBA season with the Chicago Sky, pulled off a feat only one other player in league history has managed: scoring 30 points in 21 minutes or less. This absolute breakout performance was just one highlight in a debut year that saw the 25-year-old guard turn heads and become a fan favorite, even as the Sky struggled with injuries and losses.
From Overseas Stardom to WNBA History Books
Taylor’s journey to the WNBA was anything but typical. Before signing with the Sky, she was tearing it up overseas, playing professionally in Lithuania with Kibirkstis Vilnius and Poland with MB Zagłębie Sosnowiec. With the Polish squad, she was averaging a wild 22.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals. The Sky inked her to a training camp contract back on April 13, and seriously, who could have seen this coming? She showed flashes in a preseason game against the Atlanta Dream on April 29, dropping 23 points and getting the Wintrust Arena buzzing. But that was just the appetizer. When her official debut rolled around on May 27 against the Toronto Tempo, Taylor came off the bench and exploded for 27 points in a mere 23 minutes. Then, on June 11 against the Indiana Fever, she absolutely went off, scoring a career-high 30 points in just 21 minutes or less. That’s what put her in the record books, making her only the second player ever to hit that mark.
Clutch Plays and Unstoppable Momentum
Slowly but surely, Taylor wasn’t just a spark plug, she became *the* feature. Fans and observers waited to see what magic she’d unleash next. By June 17, she earned a spot in the starting lineup. Against the New York Liberty, she truly blossomed, scoring 24 points in 28 minutes and nailing a crucial 3-pointer with just 15 seconds left to put the Sky ahead. Talk about clutch! Even though they ultimately fell 96-95 after a buzzer-beater attempt missed, it showed her mentality. She didn’t have to wait long for her hero moment, though. On August 2, against the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, Taylor hit a ridiculous 3-pointer from 24 feet away with 0.9 seconds left on the clock to seal an 84-83 victory. By that point, her name being announced sent “gargantuan roars” through the arena. She embraced the fans, even when the team was struggling, saying she “felt it at Wintrust all the time; regardless of our record, they came out, and they supported us through wins and through losses.”
Taylor finished her incredible rookie season averaging 13.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. She was deservedly named to the AP All-Rookie Team, and a nod to the official WNBA All-Rookie Team is surely to follow. Taylor absolutely laid down a marker in her first season, and the WNBA is better for it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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