One day before the 2024 WNBA Draft, future second-round pick Celeste Taylor was with us at SLAM HQ reminiscing about her childhood memories of going to the New York Liberty Games with her dad. It was in those moments that she saw legends, champions and MVPs like Sugar Rogers, Essence Carson, Cappy Pondexter and Tina Charles and, as a ball girl, got the chance to make a comeback for Skylar Diggins-Smith and Candace Parker. came to town.
“I think that’s a lot of where I found the love of the game,” Taylor tells us. “Just seeing them compete and watching it every night when I was growing up, (that’s) Kelsey Plum, Aja Wilson, Chelsea Gray. (I) was able to see that women were really successful in their profession.”
It’s surreal for Taylor to be playing in the same league they’ve always admired. The former 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, who averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 assists in his fifth year since transferring to Ohio State, knows he has a lot to learn if he wants to elevate his game at the next level. “The first thing that comes to mind is how crazy it is and how crazy it will be to see people you saw play when you were a kid right in front of you. Either playing alongside them or playing against them, I mean, it’s just really exciting and great, honestly.”
When asked if he is ready to behave himself, Taylor does not hesitate. “It’s me.”
Photos via Getty Images. Portrait of Evan Bernstein.
