Phoenix Mercury training camp Day 6 observations: Celeste Taylor's return
Coming off a foot injury, Friday marked the first day Celeste Taylor participated in a full capacity at Phoenix Mercury training camp.
PHOENIX — Celeste Taylor made her triumphant return to practicing in a full capacity on Friday after a ramp-up period that has been months in the making.
Playing in Australia for the WNBL’s Sydney Flames during the WNBA offseason, Taylor suffered a foot injury on Feb. 12 in the Flames’ penultimate regular season game that saw her miss the WNBL playoffs.
“I’m feeling really good,” Taylor said on Friday. “Just still in my little rehab progression, but today was my first day fully, fully out there, so I’m feeling really good.
“I mean, it’s really just a progression thing, so just trying to take it day by day. And as much reign as they give me I’m willing to take, maybe a little bit more sometimes, but my foot’s feeling great, and I’m ready to get back out there 100%.”
On Friday, Taylor participated in a group with Natasha Mack, Sami Whitcomb, Anna Makurat, Kathryn Westbeld, Sevgi Uzun, Megan McConnell, Shyla Heal and Temira Poindexter.
While scrimmaging on Friday, Taylor played off the ball with McConnell playing as the group’s point guard; however, Taylor has demonstrated she can play anywhere. One of her best traits is her versatility.
The depleted 2024 Mercury saw their starters miss a combined 40 games due to injury (Natasha Cloud missed an additional game due to suspension), so Taylor saw a mix of action at point guard, shooting guard and small forward last season.
And she proved she can be effective no mater where she ends up playing.
Taylor led the Mercury in +/- during the 2024 season at a +1.1, recording a zero or greater +/- in 11 of her games.
“Obviously, it’s a tremendous confidence booster, but at the same time I always had the mindset of coming in and working, coming in and still trying to develop that trust,” Taylor said Wednesday of her growing confidence and gaining coach Nate Tibbetts’ trust last season.
“Trust is something that you have to develop and it takes time. And so for me it was good to be a part of this team last year, but just continuing to try and instill in my teammates and not just my coaches that they can trust me, and that we’re all gonna make the right reads and play together.”
In Australia, Taylor began the year playing point guard and later transitioned to shooting guard after the emergence of Taylor’s Sydney teammate Shaneice Swain.
But as the Flames had their own injury issues, Taylor ended the season playing as a power forward and as a four-five at times.
“I think overseas, for me, it was just more of trying to get comfortable and be confident,” Taylor said on Wednesday. “I’m playing against grown women overseas, and I’ve had to play against Sami (Whitcomb) and other girls in the (WNBA) overseas, so just being really confident coming in and just continuing to work hard and get better at the things I struggled with a bit.”
Taylor worked hard to improve her shooting and made strides offensively while in Australia. She did not score in double figures during her first eight games with the Flames but reached double figures in nine of her final 12 games, averaging 14.2 points per game over that stretch.
But one area where Taylor has always made her presence known is on the defensive end.
She was named 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (Coaches) at Ohio State and the 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year at Duke.
“I think we tried to harp on it a little bit last year, too, but with the versatility and the “position-less basketball” on the offensive end, it’s really helpful on the defensive end as well,” Taylor said of the Mercury’s defensive identity this season.
“Everybody can move around, we can switch a lot. We have some mobile posts too, so it’s been pretty cool. But it’s just exciting to be able to pressure the ball full-court. It takes me back to my sophomore year of college (at Texas).”
Taylor won’t play as a four or as a five with the Mercury but that experience overseas only helps her as she looks to again make her mark on the defense end.
“Yeah, I think I always had that defensive mindset so just continuing to be a pest on the ball and just be able to fit in where I can, hit open shots, keep the ball moving and finding open shooters,” Taylor said on Wednesday when asked what her role is with the Mercury.