Celeste Taylor discusses her three-level scoring and defense for WNBA teams.
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00:00 What are your thoughts going into the draft and what are you hearing from scouts or people around the league?
00:06 Yeah, obviously a very exciting time but at the same time, you know, kind of anxious just to, you know, get the process
00:14 started.
00:16 But, you know, a lot of it is just, you know, they're excited, you know, that I'm finally in the draft after, you know,
00:22 the whole situation last year
00:24 and, you know, just come in being ready and bringing my strengths along with me.
00:29 Yeah, definitely.
00:31 And what do you do when, obviously, you didn't have as many games as some of the other
00:37 girls going into the draft who went further in NCAA tournaments.
00:41 So what do you have to do to kind of like make up for not having those really valuable games on a national stage?
00:55 I think for, you know, honestly, you know, they had the opportunity to watch during the season.
01:00 You know, obviously not having those prior games, those games after,
01:05 I wouldn't say hurts you, but, you know, obviously you just get more time to showcase against
01:11 different teams in the country and higher level.
01:15 But I think, you know, they have the opportunity to watch during the season
01:19 and then I think the interviewing process is important as well.
01:24 Just so they can get, you know, to know you and a lot more about
01:27 other stuff than just basketball.
01:30 And what is it like going from,
01:33 flipping from
01:36 the mindset of focusing on the NCAA tournament, focusing on your team, and then
01:40 having to go right into focusing on yourself and focusing on making sure you're ready for the next stage of your own career?
01:50 It's definitely hard. It's definitely a difficult task, but at the same time,
01:54 it, you know, just kind of prepares you for life, you know, after one thing something else comes. And so just having that
02:02 kind of, I guess, previous experience of, you know, having to go to a different team quickly after, having to
02:09 you know, just adaptability, I think is
02:14 the word with my experience, but
02:17 I mean, it's been hard. It's been interesting.
02:20 But, you know,
02:22 it's kind of taking me back to summer workouts where, you know, I'm usually home and, you know, workout with my trainer.
02:27 So a lot more focus on
02:29 my skill set and development.
02:31 Thank you.
02:34 Sorry to interrupt. Celeste, is there any way you could turn on your camera? Got a couple requests for that. Sorry to interrupt you.
02:40 Thank you.
02:45 Celeste, how do you think that your year at Ohio State helped prepare you to now go play professionally?
02:51 I
02:57 honestly have taken a different look at it just because obviously it's a whole new
03:02 situation for me, a whole new role coming into somewhere that had a culture and a foundation
03:09 that was already set. And so for me, it was more of just looking at it as, you know, this is a lot of the
03:15 which, you know, this is
03:18 [inaudible]
03:34 for me, it was kind of coming into a system kind of like where there is a lot of experience.
03:39 And just finding my own way to impact the program,
03:45 the people around me, and then just, you know, finding my ways through
03:50 impacting the game. And so I think for that purpose solely, like, you know,
03:54 I'm so happy that I came to Ohio State because I get that prior
03:57 experience before going into the draft.
04:01 What do you think are the biggest things you'll take away from Ohio State or, you know, any favorite memories from your time at Ohio State?
04:08 Yeah, there's honestly a lot. Obviously, you know, winning the Big Ten was big for us
04:14 and it was honestly a pretty cool moment. It was my first regular season
04:18 championship win. So definitely that part and I think just, you know, the bonds that I've created with everybody in the program
04:26 from, you know, the training staff to the managers to my teammates to the coaches.
04:31 So, you know, just being involved and, you know, around great people.
04:34 Thank you.
04:38 Hey Celeste,
04:53 as you're going through this process, what do you want WNBA scouts to know about you?
05:00 And what are you trying to, I guess, share about yourself with them and coaches and things like that?
05:06 I think so. I think the biggest thing would probably be
05:13 how hard-working I am. But along with that, I think just how genuine and how
05:21 authentic I am. I think I bring a whole different outlook and experience.
05:27 I mean, obviously they know through all the programs and the coaching styles that I've been
05:31 a part of, but, you know, just, you know, very adaptable. I can adapt to a lot of different things.
05:39 And, you know, just that, you know, they're going to get somebody who's going to
05:44 compete and really try to just leave their imprint in wherever
05:50 or on whoever decides to draft me.
05:55 And you think back through your college career, you had some incredible moments,
06:00 but this could be the biggest one of your basketball career. I mean, did you ever think that you would be in this position?
06:06 It was a dream, but did you think that this would actually be a part of your story?
06:11 Yeah, honestly, it took me a long time to really realize that
06:18 and really have that settle in. I mean, honestly, I really don't think it has settled in yet until
06:25 you know, I'm physically with a team and in training camp, but
06:29 I mean, it was, it did become something that
06:34 I thought could be
06:36 achieved. I would probably say towards the end of my high school career,
06:40 but obviously I knew how much work it took me to get
06:43 Yeah, just, it was something that
06:52 I found out later on, you know, obviously in my journey, but you know, obviously still can't grasp it until it happens and just really excited
07:00 for things to honestly come true, all the dreams to come true.
07:04 No worries and thanks. My last one for you, making a WNBA roster is, it's so hard.
07:11 There's just not many spots and there's so much talent, which is, the talent part's a good thing.
07:16 So what is going to be your goal as you go into
07:21 that, you know, training process and trying to make the roster?
07:25 Yeah, I think for me, honestly, it's going to be to come in and learn.
07:31 You know, they always say, you know, the easy part is getting drafted. The hardest part is staying.
07:37 And so, you know, I want to be a player that stays in the league and not just one that makes it for one year
07:44 or even for a training camp. So I think
07:48 for me, just coming in and learning, learning the business side of
07:51 the understanding that everything that I did, you know,
07:55 I'll be new for everyone around me, trying to enjoy the moments and
08:03 just, you know, stay with it and stay with my faith and just, you know, hard.
08:11 Thank you.
08:16 Celeste, going off that question, what are your expectations for yourself in the first two, three, four years in the league?
08:22 Yeah, I mean, obviously it's kind of hard to gauge right now at this moment, just because, you know, you don't know what team
08:31 wants you or is going to pick you, what team you're going to end up on,
08:36 or if I'm even going to end up on a team. But, you know,
08:40 honestly, I think
08:43 the biggest thing for me would just be
08:45 you know, just to come in and leave an impact like I've had on every other program that I've been to.
08:50 I mean, I kind of mentioned it before, but I think that, you know,
08:53 somebody asked me what my superpower was and I feel like for me personally,
08:57 my superpower is not on the court. It's more of, you know, being able to
09:02 to leave
09:04 things better than what they were when I got there.
09:07 And whether that be, you know, from, you know, one small thing such as like a teammate,
09:13 you know, instilling more confidence in one of my teammates.
09:16 Or, you know, being able to build a deeper connection between the university and the community.
09:21 So I think
09:23 for me, it would just be trying to impact wherever that I can in the first two to three years because, you know, I'm still
09:29 I'm still new to the league in those first two to three years.
09:34 Thank you. And just one more for you.
09:37 You talked, I know last time we talked
09:39 after the Duke game, you're pretty emotional and you're talking about what it meant for you to be a Buckeye.
09:45 Could you just talk a little more about like those bonds you made, especially playing for McGuff?
09:49 And then what do the other girls on this team mean to you on and off the court?
09:54 Yeah, I mean, honestly,
10:00 like, you know, we mentioned before that I feel like it gave me such a different outlook on myself being here,
10:06 you know, like I've had to do a lot of self-reflecting
10:09 since I've been here just because of the challenges that I was presented with. So,
10:13 you know, with those challenges and with those lows becomes
10:16 growth.
10:19 You know, just, you know, being a part of the program with the coaching staff
10:23 and getting to learn under the coaches
10:27 has been really enjoyable for me and definitely has helped me grow.
10:30 And as far as my teammates, you know, they're
10:33 [audio cuts out]
10:43 Celeste, I think you've cut out. I mean, just the relationship that I've had with my teammates.
10:49 You know, they become sisters and
10:53 you know, I couldn't ask for a better group of girls to learn with, to grow with
10:59 and form those relationships with.
11:03 [audio cuts out]
11:05 Just to follow up on that, what's it like for you to go through this process with JC and for, you know,
11:12 the potential for both of you to go to the WNBA this year?
11:15 Yeah, I mean, obviously it's cool. It's definitely very exciting to have somebody, you know, that
11:22 you played with in the last year and, you know, they're experiencing the same, pretty much the same things you are
11:29 going through the interview stages, going through
11:33 that night and all the emotions that we have that come along with it.
11:37 And so just an exciting time for both of us.
11:40 And I think we're just trying to lean on each other as much as possible because we are going through the same process.
11:45 Thank you.
11:48 Hey, Thomas, you just joined us. You want to get some questions in?
11:55 Yeah, sure. I appreciate it. Thanks for the time, Celeste.
11:59 Looking ahead to next week in the draft and, you know, potentially then joining a WNBA team, are there any,
12:05 like, not, you know, saying what team you want to go to or players you want to go to, but players you want to face against or
12:11 get the potential to learn from. Are there any players that you've kind of like looked up to
12:15 in the WNBA that you're hoping that, you know, you're able to cross pass and play against or even with?
12:21 Yeah, obviously, you know,
12:27 you know, I was always in New York, you know, I was always a Liberty fan.
12:31 And now they have Tavira, they have
12:35 Suley, they have, you know, a really good group over there. I would also say Kelsey Plum, you know,
12:42 Kalia Copper, Diana Taurasi, obviously all the big names out there.
12:49 So, I mean, it's just been an exciting time. I think wherever I go, there's definitely
12:53 WNBA.
12:56 Big
12:57 [inaudible]
12:59 you know, can help
13:01 as we grew it.
13:03 Thank you.
13:05 I had another question, but it was asked, so I'm good, Maria. Okay, I'll say, is everybody good? Any last
13:13 question for Celeste before we let her go?
13:15 Perfect. Thank you, Celeste. I appreciate you joining. Appreciate the time. Thank you.