Celeste Taylor Becomes Second Buckeye Off the Board in WNBA draft at No. 15 to the Indiana Fever

Kevin McGuff is making a statement about the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes are having themselves a day.

Ten picks after teammate Jacy Sheldon went to the Wings, graduate guard Celeste Taylor went No. 15 to the Fever at Monday’s WNBA draft.

Taylor, a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year — one in the Atlantic Coast Conference and another in the Big Ten — has been a lockdown perimeter defender and has been great in help-and-recover scenarios. In fact, Taylor was named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award finalist this season, an honor for the top four defenders in the country.

Apr 15, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Celeste Taylor poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

In addition, she was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team this season, joining Sheldon, sophomore Cotie McMahon, and junior Taylor Thierry as the Buckeye honorees. At Duke, Taylor was named to the All-ACC First Team — the only Blue Devil to be recognized for any award.

Although the Valley Stream, New York, native was known for her defense, she mentioned pre-draft that she wants everyone to know about ending the regular season shooting 48 percent from downtown through the final six games.

Prior to Ohio State, Taylor played for Texas for two seasons before transferring to Duke and playing under head coach Kara Lawson for another two seasons.

Although this season started slow on the offensive end, Taylor ramped up her production come Big Ten play, averaging just under 12 points per game since December 30, 2023, in the regular season.

Now, the Fever add a dominant defensive player, as well as a three-level scorer, to their arsenal, one which includes Caitlin Clark in the backcourt.

The first opportunity to see Taylor in action in the league will be May 14/15, as the Fever play the Sun at 7:30 p.m., streaming on ESPN2.