Penny Taylor is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) for 14 seasons. She won three WNBA championships with the Phoenix Mercury (2007, 2009, and 2014), and was named to the WNBA All-Star team three times (2002, 2007, and 2011). She also won a gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2004 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
High School
Taylor was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1981. She began playing basketball at a young age, and quickly rose through the ranks of the Australian youth system. In 1999, she led her high school team, Upwey High School, to the Victorian state championship.
College
Taylor debuted in the Women’s National Basketball League playing for the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) starting in 1997–98, winning the WNBL title the following season. Afterwards she moved to Dandenong Rangers, where she remained from 1999 to 2002. Taylor led the league in scoring with 25.5 points per game and steals with 2.5 steals per game during the 2000–01 season, being named the WNBL MVP in that season and the next. (Source)
Professional
Taylor was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury with the first overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft. She quickly became a star in the league, and was named to the WNBA All-Star team in her rookie season. In 2007, she helped the Mercury win their first WNBA championship. She would go on to win two more championships with the Mercury in 2009 and 2014.
Taylor also had a successful international career. She played for the Australian national team from 2001 to 2016. In 2006, she led the Opals to a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship. She also won a bronze medal at the 2004 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Current Status
Taylor retired from professional basketball in 2016. She is now the assistant coach of the Phoenix Mercury. She is also a member of the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.
Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor are a married couple who met while playing for the Phoenix Mercury. They were together for eight years before getting married. They married on May 13, 2017. Taurasi and Taylor are one of the few women basketball couples. They met on the first day of training camp after being drafted to the Phoenix Mercury. They competed against each other in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic games.
Legacy
Penny Taylor is one of the greatest basketball players in Australian history. She was a two-time All-American, a three-time WNBA champion, and a gold medalist at the FIBA World Championship. She is also a member of the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame. Taylor is an inspiration to young basketball players all over the world, and her legacy will continue to inspire for years to come.
Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor Donate $10,000 to Maui Wildfire Relief
WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor have donated $10,000 to help with relief efforts in the wake of the recent wildfires on Maui. The wildfires, which began on August 8, have destroyed more than 3000+ homes and businesses and displaced thousands of people.
“After many trips to the island, enjoying their spectacular beaches and amazing culture, creating family memories for life, we are moved to take action,” Taurasi said in a video posted by the Mercury. “We are donating $10,000 and we ask you, X-Factor and anyone else who sees us to join us in our efforts.”
