From Overlooked to Unstoppable: How Sydney Taylor Rewrote the Rookie Script

Nobody drafted Sydney Taylor in 2024. Two years later, the 5-foot-9 guard from Long Island is one of the biggest stories in the WNBA.After grinding overseas in Lithuania and Poland, Taylor signed a training-camp deal with the Chicago Sky and refused to be ignored. A 30-point explosion in just 21 minutes against the Indiana Fever forced coach Tyler Marsh to insert her into the starting lineup. She has barely left it since.Averaging 14.7 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field, Taylor has delivered multiple 25-plus point nights and become the Sky’s most reliable scoring spark. Veterans and even opposing coaches have taken notice. The message is clear: the undrafted label no longer applies. Sydney Taylor has arrived.

Sydney Taylor, the undrafted Chicago Sky guard, has gone from overlooked free agent to one of the WNBA’s most productive and exciting rookies in 2026.Born June 21, 2001, in the Long Island area and a standout at St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington, New York, Taylor played four seasons at UMass (earning All-Atlantic 10 honors) before transferring to Louisville for her final year of eligibility. Despite a solid college career, she went undrafted in 2024. She spent the next two seasons overseas—first with Kibirkstis Vilnius in Lithuania, then with MB Zagłębie Sosnowiec in Poland (where she earned Polish League MVP recognition)—while keeping her WNBA goal firmly in focus. She journaled about it, trained hard, and waited for an opportunity.

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In April 2026, the Chicago Sky signed her to a training camp contract. Few expected her to make the roster, let alone contribute meaningfully on a team reshaping after roster changes. She made the opening-day squad and initially came off the bench. Early spark performances—including 27 points in 23 minutes against Toronto—earned her more trust. Then came the breakout: on June 11 against the Indiana Fever (featuring Caitlin Clark), she entered with the Sky down big and exploded for a career-high 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting in roughly 21 minutes, helping force overtime. It was just the second time in WNBA history a player scored 30+ in 21 or fewer minutes.

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That performance accelerated her rise. Coach Tyler Marsh inserted her into the starting lineup on June 17. She has largely stayed there, delivering consistent double-digit scoring and several high-output nights. By early August she was averaging around 14–15 points per game (team-high territory at points), with strong efficiency marks, including solid two-point and free-throw shooting. She holds the mark for the most points by an undrafted rookie in WNBA history and has posted multiple 25+ point games (a Sky rookie record territory). Notable later highlights include a 29-point outing with a buzzer-beating three against the Las Vegas Aces and other clutch contributions that have made Sky games more fun and competitive.

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Marsh has noted her early confidence in camp, gradual minutes increase, and natural feel—effortless movements, footwork off screens, and a New York-style edge that stood out on film. Teammates and observers describe a quick-release shooter who can attack the rim, finish with floaters, and create. What was supposed to be a developmental year turned into a starring role amid injuries and roster needs. She has entered Rookie of the Year conversations alongside higher-drafted peers like Olivia Miles and others, while providing the Sky with much-needed offensive production.

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Taylor’s path—college transfer, overseas grind, training-camp long shot to starter and key scorer—embodies persistence. She has repeatedly said she never had a Plan B and never gave up. In rewriting the typical undrafted-rookie script, she has given the Sky a feel-good foundation and the league a reminder that talent and belief can surface in unexpected places. As the 2026 season continues, her stock keeps rising.