Undrafted WNBA rookie just had a monster performance

Sydney Taylor went undrafted after a standout collegiate career that included stops at UMass and Louisville. Like many undrafted players with aspirations of playing basketball professionally, she headed overseas, playing in Lithuania and Poland.

Then, in April, she signed a training camp deal with the Chicago Sky.

Most undrafted players who sign training camp deals don’t end up making it. Oftentimes, it takes multiple tries for a preseason opportunity to turn into a standard roster spot. Sometimes, that never materializes.

But Taylor capitalized on the opportunity with a strong preseason. Now, just a few months later, she’s beginning to establish herself as a notable rookie in the class — and, perhaps, one of the most effective guards on the Sky.

The 24-year-old is averaging 9.5 points in just 13.5 minutes per game. On Thursday, in an overtime loss to the Indiana Fever, she exploded for a career-high 30 points on 10 of 14 shooting in just 21 minutes.

That wasn’t the first high-scoring affair of her rookie season; Taylor also tallied 27 points in a loss to the Toronto Tempo last month.

Taylor’s 30-point game is the highest-scoring affair by a member of the rookie class this season — a class that includes Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts, and other dominant college players. Her 30 points are also the most points scored by a bench player so far this year.

Could Sydney Taylor see an increased opportunity with the Chicago Sky?

Taylor could soon find herself jumping ahead of other Sky guards in the rotation, like Rachel Banham, who is averaging just 4.8 points in 16.5 minutes per game. Taylor had logged double-digit minutes in six consecutive games, but barely played in consecutive games before getting an increased chance on Thursday.

Head coach Tyler Marsh suggested after the Sky’s loss to the Fever that improvements on the defensive end will enable the rookie to get more extended run.

“There’s been several games this year where she’s been able to show her explosiveness and then other times where rookie growing pains present itself,” Marsh said, per The Chicago Sun-Times. “We know the type of offensive power that she has. She came better on the defensive end, so we’ll continue to find ways to get her in there.”