With fewer than five seconds left tied against the No. 2 team in the league on Aug. 21, Chicago knew there was only one place the ball should be: in Sydney Taylor’s hands.

After weaving a steady four dribbles, the undrafted rookie created the space she needed to launch a 25-foot shot from deep with 1.6 seconds remaining. The audible swish from the basket and subsequent roar from Wintrust Arena signaled the Sky victory over the Valkyries.

While stereotypically a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a rookie to sink a game-winner in such clutch fashion, Taylor is no stranger to taking down the No. 2 team with a go-ahead three-pointer. Earlier in the season on Aug. 1, Taylor’s 24-foot bucket with 0.9 seconds left of regulation lifted the Sky over the then-No.2 Aces.

Against Golden State, Taylor made history, becoming the first rookie to ever hit multiple go-ahead three-pointers in a single season with under five seconds in regulation. She’s only the third player to ever do so in league history, joining current teammate Courtney Vandersloot (2022) and also Leilani Mitchell (2015).

“I don’t have a ton of experience in this league, but I love the game of basketball,” Taylor said postgame. “I live, sleep, breathe it. I love getting better, I love being in the gym. My confidence in myself growing up as a kid and getting to this level, just living out my dreams means everything to me. I think my confidence shows through my game.”

Faith and assurance is indeed apparent when watching the All-Rookie hopeful play. After putting up four double-digit scoring performances coming off the bench in the beginning of the season, Taylor officially earned a spot in the starting rotation on June 17. Since then, Taylor has been averaging 17.4 points and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the field, 40.3% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the line.

With a roster as deep and established as the Sky, it is rare to see an undrafted rookie with as many game-dependent opportunities.

Head coach Tyler Marsh commented on how proud he is of the toughness of the team.

“We have veteran players on this team, we have future Hall of Famers on this team, we have WNBA champions on this team who are trusting in an undrafted rookie,” Marsh said.

This trust does not come lightly. It comes from Taylor’s consistent drive to grow everyday, maintain a steadfast mindset and contribute to those around her.

“Sydney Taylor is the perfect example of what it means to be a professional as a rookie,” teammate Natasha Cloud said. “She’s one of the first ones in and [last] ones out. Even when she was hurt over these last two weeks, [she got] after it to try to get back to us as quickly as she can with her rehab and her on the court work.”

Taylor’s recent clutch shot over the Valkyries came in just her second game back after being sidelined due to a left groin injury for five games. Despite being under a minutes restriction, Taylor has made every second count when given the opportunity.

“We’re all just really proud of her,” Cloud said. “In these moments, we know where the ball is going to go. We have the most confidence in her as her teammates. No matter what year it is for us, we know that the ball is going to go to Sydney Taylor.”

While Taylor has already made an undeniable impact on the Sky this season, her mission is not over yet. Chicago is now on their first three-game win streak since September of 2023 and is looking to continue it throughout their final push of the season.

“It’s still a chance for us to get to the playoffs,” Taylor said. “That’s our mindset, that’s our goal right now. We’re going out here fighting, and this win streak hopefully will bring us more momentum going into the rest of the season.”

Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty: 8/18 Game Day Highlights Presented by Demesmin & Dover