Game days in the Mullins Center may not be a part of Sydney Taylor’s life anymore, but the former UMass women’s basketball star still carries her time with the Minutewomen with her to present day.

Now playing real minutes for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, Taylor still relies on the skills and lessons she learned throughout her four years in Amherst to continue making her lifelong dream a reality.

With the season starting earlier this May, Taylor became the first former Minutewoman to score points in a WNBA game, and third to ink a contract at the highest level.

“It feels really great,” Taylor said of the milestone. “I didn’t know that I was the person to do that, until I saw it on their Instagram feed, that was really cool to see. UMass will always have a special place in my heart… They definitely helped develop me into the player I am today. I’ll forever be grateful for UMass.”

Taylor’s roster spot with the Sky was one she had to earn throughout the offseason, initially earning a training camp contract that came with no guarantees. The 24-year-old worked hard to show off why she deserved a spot for the regular season, appearing in both of the team’s preseason games.

In the second of the two, Taylor saw 17 minutes off the bench against the Atlanta Dream on April 29, making the most of her opportunity. Knowing it was the final chance to make her mark before cuts were made, Taylor exploded for a huge 23-point performance.

“Those were super important,” Taylor said of her preseason opportunities. “Just going out and showing what I can do. I know in practices, I was performing really well. But I didn’t know what the pieces looked like. ‘Even though I’m doing really well, do they need my position?’

“There was a lot of stuff going through my head, but I was just going out there with that mindset to kill regardless of who they have and who they need,” Taylor continued. “And I think that helped a lot. I think that’s probably a big reason why I did make the team.”

Now six games into her WNBA career, Taylor has proven that her preseason success wasn’t a fluke. In 13.8 minutes per game off the bench, the Long Island, N.Y. native has fit right in at the new level of competition, averaging 9.2 points per game.

Scoring has come easy out the gate for Taylor, who exploded for a 27-point night on May 27 against the Toronto Tempo in just her fifth game. The breakout performance came unexpectedly to most, with Taylor becoming the fastest player to score 25 or more points in Sky history.

“I’m having a great time,” Taylor said. “I’m living out my dream. I’m playing with some of the greatest players to ever play the game. Learning every day, soaking it in. Becoming a better player, becoming a better person.”

After years of striving to make a WNBA roster, the reality of Taylor’s current situation still has come about quickly. Throughout her two seasons post graduation in Lithuania and Poland, Taylor knew she was capable of making the leap, but still sometimes can’t believe it’s actually happening.

“This is a dream come true for me,” Taylor said. “When I found out I made the roster, I was very excited. I was very happy, blessed, thankful, grateful, all of that.
But, a part of me still feels like I didn’t make it and it’s kind of surreal to be here.

“But I think that’s a good thing to have, a little chip on my shoulder,” Taylor continued. “Just going into practice every day, still trying to prove that I still deserve to be here, even though I am on the team.”

Along the way, Taylor has maintained the same grit and determination that carried her throughout her four years with the Minutewomen.

Winning the Atlantic 10 Championship in 2022 and making the A-10 All Conference First Team her senior season were just stepping stones throughout the journey at this point, but moments and memories from Taylor’s time in the maroon and white will always be ones she looks back on fondly.

To this day, Taylor still feels the love from her UMass supporters, knowing how much both the people and place helped shape her into the player and person she is today.

“I still hear from a lot of fans from UMass, on Twitter and Instagram like that, even like in the dining halls, I still hear from the chefs and stuff like that,” Taylor said. “That community out there at UMass is caring. They talk to you, they care for you, and that’ll never stop with them.
And I love that about that community.”