Over the course of the 2025 Phoenix Mercury coaching camp, there was an excellent mixture of rookies, returners, and veterans. One of many returners occurs to be Celeste Taylor.
After Mercury signed Taylor final season, it marked her second seven-day contract. Nonetheless, she discovered a spot within the rotation as a result of ongoing accidents. Nonetheless, it is a new expertise, as she wasn’t part of Phoenix’s coaching camp in 2024.
But, Taylor managed to constantly be within the rotation. With a barrage of accidents, Taylor made her presence identified following the All-Star break. Her defensive prowess, in addition to improved 3-point capturing, made her a acknowledged title among the many X-factor.
On Friday, Taylor defined how she feels the staff is totally different from final season to now.
I requested Celeste Taylor if she feels extra ready for coaching camp, contemplating she performed below Nate Tibbetts final season.
“Being right here early earlier than coaching camp began positively helped out with having the ability to perceive the terminology.” pic.twitter.com/2cJP1z5ED3
— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) Could 2, 2025
“Yeah, I imply it is nonetheless a studying course of,” Taylor stated. “Now we have new gamers, so all people’s attempting to know. Now we have some little brief adjustments, so issues that I needed to get used to. Being right here early earlier than coaching camp began positively helped me out with that, having the ability to perceive the terminology.
“A few of it’s just like final 12 months, however I wasn’t right here for coaching camp final 12 months, so it is type of my first coaching camp in Phoenix. So I imply, I am simply right here. I am simply right here attempting to be within the second, be the place my ft are, so it has been nice.”
After temporary stints with the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Solar, Taylor discovered a house with Phoenix. Her defensive prowess was a welcome sight, particularly for a staff struggling in that space.
Her offense confirmed promise as properly, in addition to being a succesful 3-point weapon.
Celeste Taylor is prepared for the 2025 Mercury season
Though there isn’t any certainty of whether or not or not she’ll make the ultimate roster on Sunday, her expertise issues.
Once more, Taylor wasn’t part of the Mercury’s coaching camp final season. Nonetheless, she has a leg up on her friends by being in head coach Nate Tibbetts’s system for half of a season.
When requested about that, Taylor talked about that there’s a change, however basically, it is the identical.
“It may be totally different, totally different type of play,” Taylor stated. “Being that I have been right here beforehand, I do know the folks round me, so I really feel like I’ve that sort of management function.
“I talked about it on Wednesday (media day). Simply having the ability to preserve everybody engaged and allow them to know that that is my first time on this coaching camp as properly.”
Having that relatability has doubtless bridged the hole between her, the newcomers, and the returners. Though that is her second season within the WNBA, her management is rising.
After Taylor signed a closing seven-day contract final season, the laborious work paid off. There was some adversity, however that is helped her grow to be a pacesetter.
Additionally, a few of these management qualities must do with who’s on the staff this 12 months.
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Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper spherical out a formidable Huge 3. All three are leaders in their very own proper, with Taylor and Copper being teammates one season prior.
Both manner, the previous Ohio State guard expanded extra on her earlier thought in regards to the familiarity with the Mercury, and the way she’s passing her information right down to others.
“I do know the folks round us, I understand how nice they’re,” Taylor stated. “I do know what they will do for us and the way a lot they pour into us from the highest down.
“So simply excited and simply attempting to show the rooks… I suppose I am a rook, too. However attempting to show the newer guys simply to know that it is their tempo and their journey. Simply take it day-to-day.”
How can Celeste Taylor slot in with the Mercury?
Once more, Taylor’s 3-point capturing and protection are important for Tibbetts’s system. Whereas she could be an undersized guard, there have been video games of true promise.
In opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks, Taylor had 5 steals and a nasty block on a Rickea Jackson bounce shot. The Sparks’ season was completed, as they had been out of the playoffs.
In the meantime, Phoenix needed to win each sport essential to squeak in. Because of this, they managed to get into the playoffs.
In her second 12 months, Taylor’ll have the prospect to play with extra legends. She’ll play with Copper, Sabally, and Thomas, who had been All-WNBA gamers.
One season prior, she performed with the 2 biggest gamers in Mercury franchise historical past in Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. When requested about being below the tutelage of WNBA greats, it shocks her.
Since final season, Celeste Taylor has performed alongside Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Kahleah Copper.
Now, she provides Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas to the combination. I requested her if she ever will get star struck.
“After I quiet down and sit down for a minute… it’s truthfully loopy.” pic.twitter.com/Z56fsE6Tjb
— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) Could 2, 2025
“It is laborious to you understand be star-struck within the second the place you are enjoying with them,” Taylor stated. “I am simply attempting to get on board, get on tempo, and simply do no matter I can to guarantee that I sustain with them.
“After I quiet down and sit down for a minute, and I actually give it some thought, it is truthfully loopy the vets that I’ve gotten to play with and simply soak up that.”
With Phoenix finalizing its roster spots for the 2025 season, Taylor’s expertise, play type, and feistiness match like a glove for a staff striving for an additional WNBA championship.