Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Penny Taylor brought versatility, creativity, and relentless competitiveness to every game, developing into one of the WNBA’s most complete forwards during a decorated international career. A three-time WNBA champion with the Phoenix Mercury, she excelled as a scorer, playmaker, and defender while earning widespread respect for her unselfish style and winning mentality.
Here are the details about Penny Taylor:
Player Profile
- Full Name: Penelope Jane Taylor
- Nationality: Australian
- Age: Born May 24, 1981
- Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters)
- Weight: 165 lbs (75 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 2 inches
- Shoe Size: Size 11 US (women’s)
- Number: #13 (Phoenix Mercury)
- Position: Small Forward / Shooting Guard
- High School: Belgrave South Red Devils, Upwey High School, Victoria, Australia
- College: Did not attend college in the U.S.; played professionally in Australia
- WNBA Draft: 2001, 1st round, 11th overall pick by the Cleveland Rockers
- Teams Played For:
- Cleveland Rockers (2001–2003)
- Phoenix Mercury (2004–2016)
- Played internationally for teams in Italy, Turkey, and Russia during the WNBA off-seasons
- Accolades:
- Championship Rings: 3 WNBA championships (2007, 2009, 2014 with Phoenix Mercury)
- WNBA All-Star: 3-time WNBA All-Star (2002, 2007, 2011)
- Known for her versatility, elite defense, and leadership, she was an essential part of Phoenix’s championship runs.
- Kids: 2 children with wife Diana Taurasi (WNBA star)
- Siblings: Penny has an older brother, Phil Taylor.
Player Archetype / Play Style
Penny Taylor’s player archetype was that of a skilled two-way wing forward, a smooth offensive connector who could score from multiple levels, defend across matchups, and elevate star-led lineups without ever forcing the game. Defensively, she brought real versatility, handling wing assignments, rotating intelligently, and using length, timing, and discipline to bother scorers while still contributing on the glass. Offensively, Taylor functioned as a secondary playmaker and efficient scorer, thriving as a cutter, transition finisher, mid-range threat, and smart half-court option who could space the floor, attack closeouts, and keep the ball moving. Physically, she offered a long 6-foot-1 frame, fluid mobility, and coordinated athleticism that let her play bigger than a typical wing while still moving comfortably in space. Altogether, her play style was polished, unselfish, and highly adaptable, blending finesse, feel, and all-around impact in a way that made her one of the most complete forwards of her era. (Phoenix Mercury)
Scouting Report
Penny Taylor’s game always felt one step ahead of the defense because she processed movement so quickly. She rarely held the ball long enough for a possession to stagnate, flowing from a catch into a drive, a quick extra pass, or a relocation that forced defenders to communicate perfectly or concede an opening. What stands out is how naturally she fit into motion offense. She could initiate a pick-and-roll if needed, but she was just as effective cutting behind ball-watching defenders, curling off screens into the lane, or drifting into open space after drawing help with a hard first step. The scoring was efficient because it wasn’t built around difficult shot-making; it came from reading defensive positioning and attacking the moment a defender’s feet turned the wrong way. Defensively, she understood team concepts as well as individual matchups, rotating early from the weak side, tagging rollers without abandoning shooters for too long, and using active hands to disrupt passing lanes instead of chasing risky steals. The trade-off was that against bigger, more physical forwards she could be forced into tougher finishes around the rim, making spacing and quick decision-making even more important to maximize her strengths. Put her alongside a primary creator who commands multiple defenders and a frontcourt willing to screen, dive, and keep the ball moving, and her value multiplies because she’s constantly rewarding offensive flow rather than stopping it. I’ve always thought one of her most underrated qualities was her timing without the basketball; she often arrived at exactly the right spot a beat before the defense realized the passing lane had opened. There are similarities to Gordon Hayward in the way she blended scoring with connective playmaking instead of dominating possessions, while her off-ball intelligence and feel for team basketball occasionally echo Manu Ginóbili, albeit with a more controlled and less improvisational style.
Fun Facts
- She married fellow NBA star Diana Taurasi in 2017. They have lived together in Phoenix, Arizona.
Sources:
Phoenix Mercury — Penny Taylor
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame — Penny Taylor
Basketball Australia — Penny Taylor Inducted Into FIBA Hall Of Fame