Few basketball players have left an indelible mark on the game and Penny Taylor is one of them. Penelope Jane Taylor is a retired Australian basketball player born to English parents, Michael Taylor and Denna Noble on 24^th May 1981 in Melbourne Australia. Her influence and skills transcended the geographic boundary that enabled her to play in Turkey, China, Russia, and Italy. She played for Dandenong Rangers in   WNBL. In WNBA she mostly played for Phoenix Mercury, leading her team to winning Three Championships. She has proudly represented Opals with many feathers in her cap. Taylor is a dual national as her parents were British.

Early Life And Playing Career

She was destined to be a sportsperson being the child of a father who was a Soccer player. Her siblings include a younger brother Phillip, Step sister Abbey, and an older sister Heather. She went to Upwey High School in Upwey, Melbourne.

Penny was a shy child. To overcome her shyness and indulge in sports, she was enrolled in the Belgrave South Red Devils basketball club. At that time she was only 4 years old. She excelled in the sport and polished her skills at the club. Afterward, she earned a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport- the best breeding ground for young basketball players in Australia.

Penny Taylor Playing In The WNBL

In 1997, Taylor was only 16 years old when she made her debut in the Women’s National Basketball League by playing for the Australian Institute of Sport.

• Penny Taylor Career Playing For Dandenong Rangers

Gauging the skills and talent of Penny Taylor, she was drafted in by Dandenong Rangers. She played for the Rangers from 1999 to 2002. During her stay with the Rangers, she scored 25.5 points and 2.5 steals per game. She was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament for the Season 2001-2002.

Taylor as a player was a blend of athleticism, basketball acumen, and talent that set her apart from her peers. Not only she played her role in the success of her team but with her leadership qualities she lifted the game of her teammates.

After playing for different teams oversee and in NBA for 12 years, she returned to the WNBL playing for Dandenong Rangers in 2014-15. One of the reasons for her comeback was to stay close to her cancer-ridden father.

She helped her team qualify for the playoff stage by scoring 20.2 points each game in 17. Penny’s presence on the team was of paramount importance. In the Semifinal game against the Sydney Uni Flames, her team was 15 points ahead when Penny got injured. The team was 8 minutes away from the victory but without Taylor, the Rangers succumbed to pressure and eventually lost the game.

Penny Taylor’s Career In The WNBA

Taylor had a 12-year-long career playing in the WNBA. She achieved incredible success in the WNBA owing to her unparalleled skills and passion for the game.

• Playing For Cleveland Rockers

Penny was the first round, 11^th overall, pick in the WNBA annual draft of 2001. She spent three seasons with the Rockers. Overall, she played 91 games for the Rockers. In her first season, she averaged 7.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.

In the second season, the star WNBA player played 31 games scoring 10.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. In the second season, she played 34 games with 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists each game.

• Playing For Phoenix Mercury

She was not able to unleash her true talent while playing for the Rockers. She was picked up as the first overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury in the dispersal draft in 2004. The Mercury and Taylor were inseparable for the rest of her career. She helped her team win three WNBA championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014 respectively.

Taylor was a resolute player. In 2009, she suffered an injury and had her ankle surgery. But that couldn’t hold her back and she was back in the playing side. She made 2 important free throws down the stretch to help her team win the decisive game.

• Struggle With The Injuries

The Year 2012 was tough on Taylor as she battled with surgeries. She suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, forcing her into year-long rehab. She had three knee operations that year. She returned to the Mercury in 2013 but again suffered an injury in 2013 leading to more knee surgeries.

• Recovery From Injuries And Playing Again For The Phoenix Mercury

For the 2014 season, she worked hard with the health staff of the Phoenix Mercury to be fit to play again. Under the new coach and her former teammate Sandy Brondello, she got limited games with a focus on regaining her fitness. As soon as she regained her fitness and strength, she was called to the team full-time.

With her return, her team was able to win 16 consecutive games which is the longest WNBA winning streak in history. She scored an average of 10.5 points per game in the 33 games eventually leading her team to win the WNBA championship against Chicago Sky.

In 2015 her mother died and she was under stress. Therefore, as an unsigned free agent, she decided to sit out on the bench for the 2015 season. In 2016 she was signed by the Mercury again as she started her 13^th season in the WNBA.

Overall, she played 318 games for the Phoenix Mercury in her 13 seasons. She scored 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.

Penny Taylor Playing For The Opals

Taylor was a regular feature in the Australian Women’s National Basketball team in her playing career. She was part of the National women’s basketball team that won a bronze medal in the 2002 World Championship.

She was a clutch player in the Opal side that won the 2006 World Championship in Brazil. Taylor was the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

She captained the Australian team for the 2014 World Championship. Her team won the bronze medal. Taylor was named to the  All-Star Five team.

Penny Taylor’s Career In The Olympics

She represented Australia in 3 Summer Olympics in 2004, 2008, and 2016.  She played a pivotal role in winning Silver medals for the Opals in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

She was unable to play in the 2012 London Olympics due to an injury that she suffered while playing in Turkey for the Fenerbahce basketball club. The 2016 Rio Olympics was her last where the Opals lost to Serbia in the Quarterfinal.

Penelope Taylor has played professional basketball in China, Italy, Russia, and Turkey. She has won each league at least once.

Retirement Of Penny Taylor

In 2016 after playing in the Rio Olympics, Penny Taylor drew curtains on her 20 years long career. Her career influenced many young basketball players and opened doors to overseas clubs for younger Australian players.

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Coaching Career Of Penny Taylor

After retirement, she expressed her interest in coaching. In 2017 she was named the Director of Player Development and Performance of her former team, the Phoenix Mercury. In 2018 she took a year off coaching owing to her pregnancy.

In 2019 she was announced as Assistant Coach of the Phoenix Mercury. But in July 2020 she announced that she won’t be continuing her role as coach and focus on her being a full-time mother.

Penny Taylor’s Induction Into the Hall Of Fame

Acknowledging her prowess and contribution to the game, Penny Taylor was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee in July 2022.

Personal Life Of Penny Taylor

In 2005 She got married to Rodrigo Rodrigues Gil, a Brazilian volleyball player. But the couple separated in 2008. Penny married her Phoenix Mercury teammate and the WNBA star Diana Taurasi in 2017. They have a son named Leo Michael Taurasi-Taylor and a daughter Isla Taurasi Taylor.

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