HEART SOULE AND

KUA’S TOP GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORER FINDS HER

PLACE ON THE WNBA COURT.

BY GREYDY DIAZ ’10

 TWO WEEKS BEFORE TAYLOR SOULE ’ � 8 WAS DRAFTED TO THE WNBA, THE � -FOOT- �� GRADUATE STUDENT PLAYED FOR VIRGINIA TECH IN ITS FIRST-EVER FINAL FOUR APPEARANCE.

When it comes to women’s basketball, Taylor Soule ’18 has put Kimball Union Academy on the map.

Soule became the first Academy graduate to make it to the WNBA when she was selected as the 28th overall pick by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2023 draft.

The 23-year-old’s journey to professional athlete didn’t start with a dream of playing in the WNBA. She came to KUA to pursue soccer, but that quickly shifted once she and others realized her potential. Soule started to take basketball seriously her sophomore year. By her graduation, she held the school record for top girls basketball scorer with more than 1,500 points, had been named a NEPSAC Class C All-Star three times, and was committed to play 134 miles away at Boston College.

There, she went on to earn All-ACC honors three times and became one of only six players in BC history to earn at least 1,500 points and 600 rebounds.

Soule used an extra year of eligibility—granted by the NCAA because of COVID-19—to attend Virginia Tech, where she sharpened her skills under Coach Kenny Brooks.

Two weeks before she was drafted to the WNBA, the 5-foot-11 graduate student played for Virginia Tech in its first-ever Final Four appearance, against the LSU Tigers.

Soule’s time at Virginia Tech was impressive; she started in all 36 games and averaged 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. As a Hokie, she received All-Academic Team recognition for the second time and was named Second Team All-ACC and to the ACC’s All-Tournament Second Team.

Currently, the rookie is playing in her birth city of Chicago. Soule, who was 1-week-old when she was adopted and moved to West Lebanon, New Hampshire, is looking forward to connecting more with her biological family in the Windy City while making the most out of her opportunity with the Chicago Sky.

In the following interview, Soule talks about what drew her to Virginia Tech, competing in the WNBA, and her continued connection to Kimball Union.

What made you want to go to Virginia Tech for your graduate year?

I still have a good relationship with BC, but I got what I needed to get out of there and knew if I wanted to do other things, such as play professionally, it just wasn’t going to be the place for me.

I wanted to go somewhere where I wasn’t a nobody. I had played against Coach Brooks for four years. My teammate Clara Ford from Boston College also committed to Virginia Tech, so at the time it was a no-brainer.

Looking back at winter 2023, you made it to the women’s Final Four and got drafted into the WNBA. Can you describe what these last few months have been like?

It’s been crazy. I’d say the first time I took a breath was an out-of-body experience. I very much knew I was the one doing all these things, but I don’t think I, or honestly a lot of my teammates, realized the history we were making [with the Final Four].

Getting drafted was all just like a fever dream. It wasn’t until I got cut from Minnesota, got to go home, take a deep breath, and recap that I realized what had gone on. Even now, I feel I still am trying to grasp the fact this is my life. I’ve honestly been blessed. Although some people do get to go to the league, not everyone gets to say they were drafted alongside a teammate after going to the Final Four.

Where were you the day you were selected by the Minnesota Lynx? Can you take me through that moment? Leading up to it, I had conversations with my agent and other people in the WNBA about possibly being drafted, but I still think I don’t realize that I’m the one living this life.

I was at school in my apartment complex with my Virginia Tech teammates Elizabeth Kitley, Cayla King, Chloe Brooks, and Georgia Amoore. My teammate Kayana Traylor got drafted first, with the 23rd pick, and we were all texting the group chat screaming, tweeting, and posting on Instagram. We’re going crazy. Then I got drafted. I saw my name go up on the board … and I stood up and all my teammates were screaming. I was like, ‘Ain’t no way.’ It was crazy.

How do you recall feeling at that moment?

I cried, because I don’t like to consider myself an underdog or have a chip on my shoulder but if you think about it,

I was adopted from Chicago and came from a small town, so to say, ‘I was drafted,’ is something that no one can take away from me. At that moment, I was just like, ‘I did this. I had all this help. I accomplished this amazing feat.’

The Chicago Sky picked you up on a hardship contract due to the team’s injuries. How do you like Chicago and does it feel like the right fit? I never want to see anybody hurt or injured. People, not just players, welcomed me with open arms. I just came in trying to be like, ‘Hey, what do y’all need from me?’ What they need from me is to be exactly the player I have been my entire career: That’s taking open shots on the offensive end, mainly playing defense, and having energy. … I have found myself comfortable in Coach Wade’s system and playing alongside the girls, and I’m lucky enough to have great vets who are smart. So, when they talk, I listen.

What were your welcome-to-the-WNBA moments on and off the court?

It was probably when we played in Vegas against A’ja Wilson and that was like, ‘Oh, she’s her and I’m me so I’m just gonna stand here with my hands up and hope you miss.’ She did not.

I got to meet Natasha Cloud, who is my idol. It’s been cool to say, ‘I’m in the same league as someone I’ve looked up to for a while.’

As a rookie, have there been any WNBA veterans you’ve been able to lean on for advice? Has anyone been there for you during this transition?

I’ve been really lucky with the teams I’ve been on. When I was in Minnesota, Damiris Dantas was helping me out. Rachel Banham was huge in giving me confidence.

Dana Evans hasn’t even been in the league that long, but she’s been great.

Courtney Williams—I was in a game yesterday and I was screaming from the other side of the court asking her what play we were running. She’s been helpful.

Looking back at your experience at KUA, what’s one thing you learned there that you believe helped you both as a person and as a basketball player?

During my junior year, my soccer teammate Janie passed away. Although it was a really sad experience, it made me a better person, taught me to appreciate the little things and work hard but not be too hard on myself or the people around me because life’s too short that way. I play with more joy and more energy to make people smile because of her.

Do you keep in touch with any of your friends or faculty from KUA?

I keep in touch with some of the students. My best friend, Ava Dagres, doesn’t play sports anymore, but I still keep in touch with her. I have a really good guy friend, Nick Timberlake, who played for Towson basketball for three years and now he’s at Kansas playing. There are some people I still talk to and there are some teachers I still keep in touch with. The old lacrosse coach, Whitaker Willocks, and her family came to my game last night in D.C. K

Greydy Diaz ’10 is a multimedia journalist, host, and producer whose work has been featured on FIBA, The Undefeated, Andscape, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and more. She has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Under Armour, Visa, and Wilson.