Another UMass women’s basketball star is taking her talents somewhere else. 

Guard Sydney Taylor confirmed that she would be transferring to the University of Louisville for her last year of NCAA eligibility.

Taylor announced that she was entering the transfer portal on April 10. Eleven days later, she said in a post on Twitter that she would spend her last year of eligibility as a Cardinal. Louisville reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament this past season, losing to eventual national runner-up Iowa.

LOUISVILLE WASSUPPPP!!!❤️ #committed pic.twitter.com/lIRlDSvl4r

— syd taylor (@sydtay1or) April 21, 2023

“I’ll always cherish the moments on and off the court. The success we had was always a dream of mine and to leave this university with two championships is something I’ll never forget,” Taylor wrote on her Twitter. “Thank you my family, friends and fans for your continuous support.”

Taylor was a crucial part of UMass’ resurgence. The four-year player is a two-time Atlantic-10 All-Championship team selection and also earned her first A-10 All-Conference First Team nod this past season.

“We are thrilled to add a prolific sharpshooter and big game bucket getter in Sydney Taylor,” said Louisville head coach Jeff Walz in a release on the school’s website. “She has had multiple games of scoring 30-plus points and has delivered game winning shots against elite competition. Syd is a big strong guard who will impose her will on her opponents by spacing the defense out and yet still has the ability to use her strength to attack the rim.”

Taylor finished her time at UMass with 1,465 career points, 11th on the all-time points scored list, seventh in points per game (13.7) and second all-time in three-pointers made (250), among countless other records. 

In the ACC, she will be reunited with former UMass head coach Tory Verdi who left Amherst for the University of Pittsburgh job last month. Louisville and Pittsburgh will likely meet in Kentucky this season during the conference slate after playing in Pittsburgh last season.

Hannah Bevis can be reached at hbevis@gazettenet.com. Follow her on Twitter @Hannah_Bevis1.]]>