Sydney Taylor, a 5-foot-9 guard for the Chicago Sky, has already dropped two 30-point bombs and seven 20-plus point games this season, showing the WNBA exactly what an undrafted player can do. While many first-round picks from the 2026 draft, like Olivia Miles and Azzi Fudd, are having great success, it’s these surprising players who went largely overlooked that are now making the biggest noise. Four of the five most impactful rookies weren’t drafted at all.
Sydney Taylor: Proving Every Doubter Wrong
Taylor’s journey to the WNBA is wild. She spent four years at a mid-major program, UMass, before her fifth year at Louisville, where she averaged 10.8 points. Nothing groundbreaking, right? So when she went undrafted in 2024, it wasn’t a shock to many. But instead of giving up, Taylor went overseas, tearing it up in Poland with 22.8 points per game. That caught the Sky’s eye, earning her a training camp deal, but she was still an underdog for the final roster spot. Then came a preseason game where she exploded for 24 points. Chicago Sky Head Coach Tyler Marsh summed it up perfectly after that game, saying, “What you saw today is what she does. She can light it up quickly. Everyone could use a scorer like that. She has no fear. She believes every shot is going in.”
He wasn’t wrong. Taylor’s scoring outbursts have carried right into the regular season. She’s averaging 14.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 20.5 minutes over 29 games. Her shooting splits are solid: 45.3 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from deep, and 83.3 percent from the line. She told us back in the preseason, “Been doubted my whole life. ‘Mid-major, she can’t do it, didn’t get drafted, still can’t do it.’ There’s so many doubters, so many haters. Just trying to prove them wrong.” Mission accomplished, Sydney.
Pauline Astier: EuroLeague Talent Breaking Through
Another undrafted gem making a name for herself is Pauline Astier, a 5-foot-11 guard for the New York Liberty. At 24 years old, Astier wasn’t drafted out of France, but the Liberty signed her based on her stellar performance in EuroLeague Women. She was putting up 10.2 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 2026 with ZVVZ USK Praha. When star Sabrina Ionescu was sidelined to start the season, Astier stepped up huge, averaging 20.7 points over her second to fourth games.
Her scoring has cooled off a bit since then, but the potential is absolutely there. In 37 games, she’s averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 23.2 minutes. Her 55.2 percent field goal percentage leads all guards in the league and is ninth overall. She’s also hitting 32.6 percent from three and 88.2 percent from the free-throw line. Astier’s ability to contribute across the board, especially with that efficiency, makes her a player to watch as the Liberty continue their season.
These unexpected talents like Taylor and Astier are proving that the WNBA draft isn’t the only path to stardom. Keep an eye on these two as they continue to put in work, showing everyone what happens when you bet on yourself.
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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