Former Phoenix Mercury guard Celeste Taylor has embarked on a new journey in her basketball career, joining Grand Canyon University as an assistant coach. Taylor, who has been managing a foot injury, shared her excitement about this new role with ESPN on Tuesday.

Taylor's Journey in the WNBA

Taylor, known for her defensive skills, was selected 15th overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She spent her rookie season with the Mercury, Connecticut Sun, and Indiana Fever, averaging 2.6 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. Despite her potential, a foot injury sustained while playing for the Sydney Flames in the WNBL hampered her progress, leading to her eventual waiver before the regular season.

A New Role at Grand Canyon

Taylor will now work under Winston Gandy, her former collegiate assistant coach at Duke, who is taking over as head coach at Grand Canyon. Gandy, who previously worked with Dawn Staley at South Carolina and Kara Lawson at Duke, has expressed confidence in Taylor's ability to contribute to the team's success.

Taylor's Coaching Aspirations

Coaching has always been a long-term goal for Taylor. She has a passion for mentoring young athletes and has been involved in various camps and programs throughout her career. "When the opportunity presented itself, it honestly worked out perfectly with timing and everything," Taylor said. "I’m definitely grateful for him giving me the opportunity."

Grand Canyon's Recent Success

Grand Canyon is coming off a historic season, boasting a national-best 30-game win streak and making its first NCAA Division I tournament appearance under former head coach Molly Miller. With Gandy at the helm and Taylor on the coaching staff, the program looks to build on its recent success.

Looking Ahead

While Taylor focuses on her coaching career, she remains hopeful about returning to the WNBA in 2026. "There have been teams who wanted me to come back this season, and I think for me, it's trying to get healthy and trying to maintain in the space of being fit," she said.

Taylor's transition to coaching is a testament to her resilience and adaptability, qualities that have defined her career thus far. As she steps into this new role, she aims to inspire and guide the next generation of basketball talent at Grand Canyon.