Sydney Taylor Is The Undrafted Rookie Making Sky Games Fun

The “heartbreaking endings to 2026 Chicago Sky games” montage that CBS showed in the final minute of the Sky’s Saturday matinee against the Las Vegas Aces hinted at how this game might unfold.

One of the endings was from https://youtu.be/fBrkm7EkSbc?si=QgCDsXbI7BsgrtKX&t=146">a game against the New York Liberty in late June, the same game 25-year-old undrafted rookie Sydney Taylor debuted in Chicago’s starting lineup.

On the possession after Taylor hit a go-ahead three with 15 seconds left, the Sky let Sabrina Ionescu waltz to the rim for a layup to give New York the lead back, and Taylor’s next shot at the buzzer fell short.

Her teammates had to peel her off the floor, where she sat in tears.

Team minority owner Dwyane Wade, sitting courtside, came over and leaned down to pat her shoulder.

Taylor called it a “tough feeling” after that game. “But if you’re willing to take those shots, you’ve got to be willing to live with the result.”  

Fifteen games later, Taylor is the number-one option still taking those shots, and Saturday’s was a happier result to live with.

A’ja Wilson’s much-too-easy go-ahead layup with three seconds left seemed destined for the Sky heartbreak montage.

But on the next play, Taylor shook off Jackie Young (with the help of another screen from Elizabeth Williams) and hit the game-winning three.