Lindsay Corine Taylor (born May 20, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. She played in the WNBA, KBSL, LFB, WKBL, Polish Women's League, WCBA, and Angola Women's Basketball League, usually playing the center position. An experienced player, Taylor has played professionally overseas in Europe, Asia, and Africa in 13 basketball seasons between 2005 and 2015.

Taylor attended Chandler High School and was a Chandler HS state champion in 1999.

As a member of the United States 2003 Pan American Games basketball team Taylor was awarded the Silver Medal and was considered the best player on the team.

Graduating from Santa Barbara in 2004, she was one of the highly regarded rookies for the 2004 WNBA draft and was chosen by the Houston Comets and later traded to the Phoenix Mercury. She was the second-round (26th pick overall) in the 2004 WNBA Draft. In total Taylor signed with four WNBA teams between 2004 and 2008: the Houston Comets, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm (twice) and the Washington Mystics.

Between 2005 and 2015 Taylor had a decorated career playing overseas in Europe, Africa and Asia, having especially successful stints in both the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). and the Polish Women's League. Taylor finished her first season in the Polish Women's League with the highest number of scored points, and the highest overall evaluation in league history. She was also awarded Center of the Year and earned a place on the 1st Team, All-Imports Team and the All-Defensive Team.

Early life

Lindsay Corine Taylor was born on May 20, 1981, in Poway, California, the daughter of Catherine and Bill Taylor. Her family later moved to Phoenix, Arizona. She said that if it were not for basketball, her desires might have led her to a different career.

High school career

Taylor attended Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona. In her first high school basketball game, she accidentally scored for the opposite team. She became a Chandler HS state champion in 1999. On November 28, she scored a game-high 20 points as the Gauchos won. Taylor scored seven of her 20 points during the 19–4 second half run and extended the then nation's second longest home winning streak to 27 straight games. Later on December 16 she led all Gaucho players with a game high 23 points, grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and also matching her personal best of six blocked shots. On December 28 Taylor finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double and 19th of her collegiate career.

Taylor said one of her biggest developments in college was to build her strength up. Despite pulling down 7.3 rebounds per game, she counted rebounding as a weakness of hers and would continue to work hard on it to improve.

Taylor graduated from Santa Barbara in 2004. Her collegiate career held many distinctions at the time, such as the all-time leader in points: 1,755, most blocked shots: 242, and field goal percentage: 55.8%, in UC Santa Barbara history. Taylor has been Santa Barbara's all-time leading point scorer, blocker and most accurate shooter.

In April 2014, she was elected to UC Santa Barbara Hall of Fame.

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Team

!GP

!Points

!FG%

!3P%

!FT%

!RPG

!APG

!SPG

!BPG

!PPG

|-

|2000–01

|UCSB

|31

|329

|55.6

|0.0

|75.8

|6.0

|0.5

|0.5

|1.6

|10.6

|-

|2001–02

|UCSB

|29

|371

|55.0

|50.0

|78.5

|7.0

|0.6

|1.0

|2.4

|12.8

|-

|2002–03

|UCSB

|32

|521

|56.8

|70.0

|73.1

|7.5

|0.8

|0.6

|1.8

|16.3

|-

|2003–04

|UCSB

|34

|546

|55.8

|26.3

|71.2

|7.3

|1.3

|0.6

|2.0

|16.1

|-

|Career

|UCSB

|126

|1767

|55.9

|40.5

|74.5

|7.0

|0.8

|0.7

|1.9

|14.0

|}

WNBA career

First season (2004–2005)

Taylor was one of the highly regarded rookies for the 2004 WNBA draft. At age 22 she was chosen by the Houston Comets. She was subsequently traded to Phoenix Mercury alongside the higher-regarded Diana Taurasi. She was a second-round pick (26th overall) in the 2004 WNBA Draft.

Her first game was against the Seattle Storm, on May 8, 2004. Prior to the game, Taylor was told "there was a chance" she'd see some action. She got a rousing ovation when she came off the bench for a few minutes in the first half. Her family also attended the game, and were right there to watch her get her first taste of pro competition. She attempted one field goal, which she missed. On May 10, the Mercury played the Sacramento Monarchs. She attempted rebounds against Chantelle Anderson and Maren Walseth. Taylor was injured later on. Despite the injury she recovered enough to play against the Sacramento Monarchs on June 27 when she performed a career-high. Eighteen minutes into the game she grabbed two rebounds and scored three points on a 3-point basket late in the game and blocked four shots in 17 minutes. The game ended, 83–44, a Phoenix victory.

Taylor remained on the injured list for the rest of the season, but was expected to return later in her inaugural WNBA season. In total, she would appear in just five games and miss over twenty other matches during the 2004 season, seeing limited action in those games before being waived at the end of 2005 training camp.

Second season (2006)

240px|thumb|right|[[Anne Donovan was Seattle Storm coach during Taylor's stint. Donovan spoke highly of Taylor and said of her: "What I saw there was some potential."

Third season (2008)

During her time in the Polish Women's League, Taylor expressed her desire to return and compete in the WNBA, and on April 17, 2008, she signed a training camp contract with the Washington Mystics Taylor's selection on the team was considered unusual for a team noted for its average-sized post players and fast-paced style of play and gave the Mystics a completely different look. She began attending training camp for the Washington Mystics soon afterwards on April 20 at Trinity University in Washington D.C.

During her training camp trials, Taylor competed in three pre-season games. The first game, played in Tampa, Florida, against the Sacramento Monarchs, ended in a victory for the Washington Mystics with a score of 90–82. The second game was another Washington victory played in New York against New York Liberty ending 58–52. Her release coincided with her fellow UC Santa Barbara graduate and friend Kayte Christensen's release from the Chicago Sky. On May 28, 2008, Taylor and her father Bill were special guests of the Mystics for the Washington vs Phoenix Mercury game in Phoenix, Arizona.

WNBA career statistics

Regular season

|-

| align="left" | 2004

| align="left" | Phoenix

|5||0||5.2||20.0||33.3||0.0||0.6||0.4||0.2||0.2||0.2||0.6

|-

| align="left" | Career

| align="left" | 1 year, 1 teams

|5||0||5.2||20.0||33.3||0.0||0.6||0.4||0.2||0.2||0.2||0.6

International career

Taylor played basketball in numerous countries. She enjoyed great success playing overseas in Europe and Asia, especially in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). On February 8, 2006, Taylor and her team beat the Burhaniye, at home. She did not score in the first half, but she later scored 15 points in the second half. She ended up with 16 rebounds altogether. On February 18 Taylor and her team lost to Ceyhan with the scores 90–70. However, later on March 12, Botaș beat their rivals, Mersin, 81–71, in their home town. Taylor had a solid double during the game with 22 points and 12 rebounds. On April 1, she had 20 points and 12 rebounds as Botaș won, 83–59, over their opponent, the Erdemir Spor.

Korea and France (2006–2007)

On May 31, 2006, Taylor travelled to South Korea for two months, where she played in the Korean women's league. She played for the Shinsegae Cool Cats. On July 5, Taylor scraped her team out of last place in the league and into a position to make the post season play-offs but did not qualify to make it to the playoffs.

On September 17, 2006, Taylor had successful heel surgery performed on both her heels. She then recuperated and flew off to Montpellier, France where she played for the Lattes-Maurin Montpellier.

In total, Taylor averaged 16.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for Botaș.

Poland (2007–2009)

; 2007–2008

thumb|right|Taylor in 2007

Taylor spent the passing time recovering and resting until on September 7, 2007, she signed a contract with the Polish Women's League. During her stay in Poland, she shared an apartment with her teammate Meredith Alexis. Her team was called 'Energa Katarzynki Toruń' or 'Energa Toruń' for short. On October 24 Toruń played off against the Polish team Can-Pack Wisla. She scored 13 points and made eight rebounds as well as making two blocks. Energa Toruń ultimately lost the game. On October 31, Energa Toruń faced PKM Duda. In the game Taylor scored fewer points than in the previous game, scoring only 12 points, but she made a far stronger showing on the defensive and made more rebounds in the game making a total of 11 rebounds in all. She also made 1=one blocked shot. Duda went on to win the game with a total of 67–54.

Taylor's losing streak continued when Energa Toruń lost the November 3 game against KSSSE AZS PWSZ. Energa Toruń lost the match 62–73. She scored eight points and made seven rebounds. In contrast to her highest score of 11 points this season in the previous game, she made no blocks in this one. Energa Toruń next faced Lotos PKO BP on November 10. She scored 10 points in the game and made five rebounds as well as making two blocks. Lotos PKO BP went on to win the game scoring 94 points while Energa Toruń was only able to score 68. On November 18 Energa Toruń faced off against Siemens AGD. Taylor scored seven points in the game and made six rebounds as well as making four blocked shots. Energa Toruń narrowly lost the game with 74 points to Lotos' 77.

Energa Toruń next faced off against faced Siemens AGD on November 22. Taylor scored 16 points and made nine rebounds. She only played for a total of only 20 minutes in the game. This time she scored an enormous thirty three pointse. She was fouled 10 times by the opposite team. Energa Toruń eventually lost the match to KK AZS Jelenia. Energa Toruń managed to secure 51 points. However, KK AZS Jelenia Gora was able to score 55 points which enabled them to narrowly win the game.

Against MUKS Poznań on December 21 Taylor scored 29 points, putting her way ahead of all the players. Again she scored more points in the game then either player on both teams. The second-highest score of the game, Energa Toruń teammate Emilia Tłumak, scored 15. Taylor made 10 rebounds and four blocks.

Taylor received criticism for her ability to be an effective center; the Washington Post commented that she "cannot control her size" and she often ended up "blocking her own players" in practice. In its analysis of the prospected centers in the 2004 WNBA Draft, the Seattle Storm criticized Taylor: ‘As long as Taylor could tie her shoes and walk without tripping on her own feet, she'd be a WNBA prospect,’ and she had not been an effective dominating force at UC Santa Barbara despite her size and facing what it considered relatively weak Big West competition.

Personal life

250px|thumb|right|Taylor on a hike

Taylor expressed interest in potentially teaching school after her basketball career was over and she has also expressed an interest in government and politics. She also majored in religious studies. Taylor's height also made it difficult for other players to guard and block her and are generally unable to overpower her.

She has found shopping and the facilities of countries like Poland, such as toilets and baths, bothersome because they are not adequately suited for her height but did not experience the same problem in the US. She has objected to being labeled lanky, but preferred to being called 'slender' instead.

Honors and awards

thumb|right|Taylor in January 2019

Taylor had received numerous awards over the years and has set several records. Below are some of the awards she has won.

; College honors

  • Named 2003 All-America honorable mention by the Associated Press, Basketball Times and Kodak/WBCA.
  • Earned 2003 Big West Conference Player of the Year honors and to the All-Big West first team.
  • Selected the 2003 Big West tournament MVP and to the Big West All-Tournament Team, averaged 16.7 ppg. and 5.7 rpg.
  • Named the 2002 Big West tournament MVP, averaged 15.0 ppg., 8.3 rpg. and 2.0 bpg.
  • A three-time Big West All-Tournament Team selection.
  • Named 2001 and 2002 All-Big West second team.
  • Selected as the 2001 Big West Freshman of the Year.
  • Named to the 2001 Big West All-Tournament Team.
  • Earned six Big West Player of the Week honors during her career.
  • Named conference player of the week after averaging 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds to close the regular season at Cal State Fullerton on February 28, 2001

; College records

  • Currently holds the UCSB all-time career record for scoring (1,767) field goal percentage (.559) and blocked shots (243).
  • Set UCSB's all-time single-season blocked shot record with 69 in 2001–02.

; College notes

  • Averaged a team-best 16.8 ppg and added 7.5 rpg as a junior, while helping UC Santa Barbara to a 27–5 record, the Big West regular season and tournament titles and the NCAA Tournament second round.
  • Ranked 25th among all 2002–03 Division I leaders in field goal percentage.
  • Ranked 18th nationally in 2001–02 in blocked shots.
  • Recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds in UCSB's 2002 NCAA Tournament.
  • Finished her sophomore season as the Big West's leader in field goal percentage (550).
  • Paced the 2000–01 Big West in blocked shots (1.6) and field goal percentage (650).
  • Ranked third in Gaucho's history for total rebounds with 877 points.
  • Earned her 24th career double-double and ninth this season in the form of 17 points coupled with a career-high-tying 16 rebounds on February 28, 2004.
  • On November 25, she scored a game-high of 23 points and became UCSB's record holder in career blocked shots.

; High school notes

  • Attended Chandler High School (Ariz.), where she helped her school to a pair of regional titles and the 1999 state championship.
  • Averaged 19.2 ppg., 11.0 rpg. and 3.1 bpg. as a senior.
  • Named the 1999 Arizona Player of the Year by Gatorade.
  • Earned 1999 All-America fourth team honors from Parade Magazine.
  • Named 1999 all-state first team by the Arizona Republic and Arizona Dairy Council.

; Other

  • She was a member of the 2003 USA World Championship for Young Women Team and captured the gold medal with a 7–1 record in Sibenik, Croatia, averaged 6.4 ppg. and 2.9 rpg.
  • Posted tournament bests of 16 points and eight rebounds in the USA's 95–46 victory over South Korea.
  • Helped the U.S. to a 4–0 record in exhibition play against Australia and Brazil's young women national teams, averaged 3.0 ppg. in the final two contests.
  • Most Valuable Player of round 11 of the Ford Germaz Class of the Polish Women's League.
  • USA Basketball bio
  • UCSB Profile
  • Toruń Energa bio