A standout performer at Ohio State became sort of a journeyman in the WNBA. Celeste Taylor reminisced about her childhood and her brush with the W as a ballgirl when the Indiana Fever picked her in the second round. However, her happiness did not last long. The defensive guard was waived by the team only after she played 5 games. Her WNBA story then ended up in the valley with the Phoenix Mercury, then the Connecticut Sun, and back to Mercury. However, ultimately, her minimal time with the Fever had its own benefits since it connected her to a Phoenix vet and GOAT: Diana Taurasi.

On Friday’s episode of Łukasz Muniowski’s podcast, Taylor revealed what she learned from being with the Mercury and how that changed her as a player. “Yeah I think when you have vets like that you know, it’s not so much about necessarily playing against them. But more of like being able to watch them. I think that you can learn a lot by watching someone, and I think that the way she came in the way, she prepared for games, for practices…,” Taylor stated.

The Buckeyes No. 12 was waived off from the Indiana Fever on June 25, 2024, after Damiris Dantes made a return to Caitlin Clark & Co. from an injury and after her VISA troubles were sorted. Thus, the Fever now had 13 players and they had to waive one off.

“The way she took care of her body. The way she spoke to her teammates, her coaches. The amount of input she had on the team. Just her voice and her leadership, I think that alone helped me grow,” she expressed

With Taylor being the only rookie other than Clark, she had to bear the brunt. However, unexpectedly it turned in her favor as she landed with the Mercury eventually where she learned a lot from Diana Taurasi.

via Imago

“And like when you think back of it like she’s been playing in the league almost since I was born. And so it’s you know it’s crazy to go and see and be able to play with you know the GOAT of women’s basketball,” Taylor added. Taurasi was the first overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft and is currently the oldest player in the league.

The 42-year-old has been hinting at retirement plans. If she announces the same before playing another game, she would be the all-time leading scorer in the W with 10,646 almost 3K points ahead of the second-highest scorer Tina Charles.

“And so you know obviously, there’s times that I’m like after the game or like when I’m in my apartment, and I’m just like ‘Wow!’ Like I’m literally on the Mercury with Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Kahleah Copper, Cloud. Like all these people, and it’s like you grew up seeing these girls, you know,” Taylor expressed.
Meanwhile, Taylor is just 23 years old and hence it would have been nothing short of a dream come true to play alongside those she idolized. And for that, she was full of gratitude.

“You grew up seeing them play you know. I used to go to a lot of Liberty games so I used to see them play against the Liberty, and so it’s just crazy in that aspect. But I mean I’m not going to lie like everybody I always ask me… like who’s one person that you think that you took the most from like… I think I’m such an observant person, but at the same time I feel like every single vet that I’ve had, even, Rebecca Allen who wasn’t really playing that much… who’s also an Aussie,” she expounded.

Despite so much experience on the team, the Mercury gave Taylor a chance to ply her trade in 15 regular season games, averaging more than 20 minutes per game and starting in four of them.

“They poured into me more and I’m so incredibly thankful for you know the amount that they poured into me being a rookie. And coming in almost halfway through the season. So they… they’ve all touched me in different ways. But I mean yeah when you talk about playing with DT like it’s definitely something that you know I remember for the rest of my life,” Taylor concluded.

Now that’s what real vets do, they inspire you and also get you to perform. Therefore, at one time while it would have looked like a big problem to be waived off from the Fever, it eventually ended in her favor. Meanwhile, the FIBA Under-19 World Cup gold medalist herself has been an inspiration for many.

Celeste Taylor is a brand among young Latina girls

Before turning heads with the Mercury in the WNBA, Taylor played for Ohio State in the NCAA. She averaged 10.1 points with 4.1 rebounds per game with the Buckeyes. While she might not have been as grand a player as Clark or as amazing a rebounder as Angel Reese, the FIBA Under-17 World Cup gold medalist was one of the few Latinas to play in women’s college basketball. Therefore, she was regarded as a central figure for emerging athletes in her community.

“Being one of those few people that are in it trying to go out into the community and showcase that I am a Latina, I have been playing basketball and I have had some success and just showing that it can be done, I think that can be very helpful,” Taylor had enumerated on the Big Ten Country podcast.

The 2022-23 ACC Defensive Player of the Year has her maternal roots in Columbia whereas her paternal loyalties lie with Puerto Rico. Hence, her positive influence.
As of now, she can increase her impact if she continues her on-song performances in the WNBA. Meanwhile, her community would have been really happy after they saw her taking a thing or two from W’s favorite vet DT.