Should you depend your self amongst the individuals who referred to as for Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides to free Celeste Taylor, Monday’s information was most likely not what you needed to listen to. The workforce introduced that they’d waived the No. 15 total decide within the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Contemplating the workforce’s defensive struggles, a primetime perimeter stopper like Taylor ought to have gotten extra minutes, if solely to see if the hype surrounding her defensive talents would translate to the professionals. Effectively, after 5 video games and a complete of 16 minutes, she’s gone, along with her memorable moments happening off the court docket, like when she cried instantly after being chosen or when her teammates sang “Completely happy Birthday” to her.
Seeing the camaraderie within the latter video is so superior and heartwarming, making you neglect that professional ball is a enterprise. The reduce was a chilly reminder of that. As identified by Sides:
That was only a actually exhausting determination. Celeste did the whole lot we requested, she’s an excellent teammate, she talked probably the most as a rookie. She felt actually snug speaking on the court docket. It was simply actually exhausting to let her go, it was a enterprise determination. One of many hardest factor we now have to do on this enterprise.
In 2023, 15 of the 36 gamers that had been drafted to the W made the opening-day rosters; this yr’s rookies took solely 13 of the 144 roster spots. 4 of them had been second-round picks. It’s nice that Taylor bought to expertise the WNBA, an opportunity that isn’t afforded to many ladies athletes. It could simply be higher if we’d been in a position to see her get a good shot at retaining her roster spot.
Taylor is gone to make room for Damiris Dantas, a 6-foot-3 ahead from Brazil who final performed within the W two years in the past. She couldn’t be a part of the workforce on the early phases of coaching camp due to visa and private points, and she or he’s additionally had a proper knee damage that wanted therapeutic. Moreover, Temi Fagbenle ought to return from her foot damage quickly, which means the Fever’s frontcourt rotations might get fascinating. We’ll see how the strikes have an effect on NaLyssa Smith, who’s been essential for Fever’s good play thus far.
The latest loss to the Sky, whereas devastating, got here after an excellent sport. Let’s hope the promising play continues when the workforce returns to motion on Thursday evening, visiting the Seattle Storm (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video). If the Fever can stay aggressive with the perfect of them, the rumors of tanking and Sides’ job being in jeopardy ought to die down. No less than for a while.
