DALLAS — The Sky’s four-city road trip has been long, hot and chaotic. For rookie Sydney Taylor, it also has been enlightening.
In Los Angeles, Taylor, a native New Yorker, learned what to order at In-N-Out from fellow rookie Gabriela Jaquez.
A fitting introduction for Taylor, whose in-and-out dribble is one of the finest moves in her bag.
Taylor told the Sun-Times she learned it from her favorite player, Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Film, highlights, YouTube, TikTok — any time she can watch Irving work, she takes notes.
Coach Tyler Marsh wasn’t surprised to hear it. Like Irving, Taylor’s explosiveness and handle have led to her breakout season.
“She’s done a really good job of adapting her individual skill set and creativity into our team concept and being able to get our stuff more in sync with our offense,” coach Tyler Marsh said.
Since earning a starting spot, Taylor is averaging 16.2 points while shooting 47% from the field and 39% from three-point range.
Her shot selection has improved as she has gotten more comfortable, though she naturally gravitates toward difficult looks.
There still are plenty of growth areas for the undrafted rookie.
For Taylor, that means finding ways to affect the game when she isn’t scoring, playing through mistakes and fouling less. She also wants to grow as a playmaker, which will require a greater feel for the pro game and more chemistry with her teammates.
Taylor believes her connection with center Kamilla Cardoso is improving.
“I love playing with a big post player,” Taylor said. “It’s really easy. Throw it up, get a lob. She’s a great screener. She’s a great passer on the move. I think our connection is getting better day by day.”
Like everyone on the roster, Taylor is trying to develop amid constantly shifting rotations caused by injuries and players moving in and out of the lineup.
“I’m still learning to play with some people,” Taylor said. “Like Sloot [Courtney Vandersloot], I’m still learning to play off her. She got on me a little bit last game because I wasn’t in the right position.”
Taylor has learned quickly enough to become one of the Sky’s most reliable scorers — and the road trip chaos has given the rookie a veteran’s share of experience. At this point, though, she’s ready to get home to her own bed.
Carrington calls out closeouts
During a run-through Sunday morning, DiJonai Carrington stopped practice to offer some blunt feedback.
“Our closeouts are so bad,” Carrington said.
She reminded her teammates they don’t need to run every opponent off the three-point line. Most closeouts, she explained, should be controlled enough to lead to a shuffle and slide afterward rather than flying past the shooter.
Carrington, the last of the Sky’s long-term injured players waiting to make her season debut, is getting closer to a return. She now is participating in live drills after a lengthy rehab from foot surgery.
The Sky need someone with Carrington’s attention to detail on the defensive end. They have allowed more than 90 points in three of their last four games.
Finally home
After nearly two weeks on the road, the Sky will return home for two games next week. They will face the Storm before getting another shot at the Sparks, who beat them 102-87 on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Then it is back on the road for games against the Dream and Liberty before the All-Star break. Chicago will host All-Star weekend July 24-25.