Kayana Traylor

Kayana Traylor (born September 27, 1999) is an American professional basketball player. She most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. She was drafted by the Chicago Sky in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She played college basketball at Purdue and Virginia Tech.

Kayana Traylor
Personal information
Born (1999-09-27) September 27, 1999
Martinsville, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Career information
High schoolMartinsville
(Martinsville, Indiana)
College
WNBA draft2023: 2nd round, 23rd overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career2023–present
PositionGuard
Number4
Career history
2023Minnesota Lynx
Career highlights and awards
  • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention - Media (2021)
  • All-Big Ten Second Team - Coaches (2021)

College career

Traylor came out of the high school as the 41st over rated recruit by ESPNW's Top 100 per HoopGurlz.[1] In September 2015, Traylor committed to the play for the Purdue Boilermakers and became the first player committed in the 2018 recruiting class.[2]

During her freshman season, Traylor became a starter for the Boilermakers and was one of the best assisters in program history. She became the sixth-most assists by a freshman and also has the fifth-best assist per game average as a freshman.[3] Her junior year with the Boilermakers was her best one statistically. She averaged 14.6 points and 3.9 assists during Big Ten play, which allowed her to be rewarded by the coaches with an All-Big Ten Second Team honor and an Honorable Mention by the media.[4]

Following her junior season, Traylor announced that she would be transferring and play her final two years somewhere else.[5] In April 2021, Traylor announced that she would transfer to Virginia Tech.[6]

Traylor averaged double-digit in both years with the Hokies. She scored her 1,000th career point against Clemson in February 2022.[7] During her fifth year of college basketball, Traylor helped guide Virginia Tech to the first ever Final Four in their programs history.[8]

College statistics
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Purdue 22 217 .382 .283 .711 1.9 3.6 1.0 0.2 6.6
2019–20 Purdue 32 210 .396 .333 .734 2.1 3.2 0.6 0.1 6.6
2020–21 Purdue 23 344 .387 .286 .800 2.8 3.9 1.2 0.2 15.0
2021–22 Virginia Tech 33 344 .438 .330 .816 2.4 1.8 0.6 0.0 10.4
2022–23 Virginia Tech 35 344 .438 .330 .816 3.4 2.9 1.0 0.2 11.0
Career 156 1499 .410 .314 .778 2.5 3.0 0.9 0.1 9.6

WNBA career

Traylor was selected 23rd overall in the Second Round of the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky.[9] Following training camp with the Sky, Traylor was waived and did not make the Sky's roster.[10]

Minnesota Lynx

On June 26, 2023, Traylor signed a Hardship Contract with the Minnesota Lynx.[11] She made her WNBA debut the next day on June 27, 2023, when the Lynx faced off with the Seattle Storm. She played a minute of action and did not record any other statistics.[12] After spending a month on a hardship contract, Traylor was released on July 20, 2023, after Aerial Powers was activated and returned from injury.[13]

References
  1. "2018 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - espnW 100". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. "Purdue women's basketball lands 2018 commitment". indystar.com. Indy Star. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  3. "Kayana Traylor". purduesports.com. Purdue Athletics. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  4. "2020-21 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced" (PDF). bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  5. Carmin, Mike. "Kayana Traylor latest Purdue women's basketball player to enter NCAA transfer portal". jconline.com. Journal&Courier. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  6. Carmin, Mike. "Traylor transfers to Virginia Tech". reporter-times.com. Reporter-Times. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  7. "Kayana Traylor". hokeisports.com. VT Athletics. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. Pelton, Kevin. "Virginia Tech reaches first Final Four over Ohio State". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  9. Ferrell, Jermaine. "Virginia Tech's Kayana Traylor and Taylor Soule speak about being drafted by the WNBA". wvnstv.com. 59 News. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  10. @chicagosky (May 17, 2023). "We have waived guards Feyonda Fitzgerald and Kayana Traylor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. "Lynx Sign Guard Kayana Traylor". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  12. "Boxscore: Seattle vs. Minnesota". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  13. "Lynx Activate Aerial Powers". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
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