Former Card Sydney Taylor A Pleasant WNBA Surprise for Sky -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLEThe numbers were impressive, but

TAYLOR PUTTING UP EXCELLENT NUMBERS FOR CHICAGO SKY

Although she only spent a year playing basketball at UofL, Sydney Taylor's numbers were significant as a Card and she is now having a rags-to-riches success story come to life in the WNBA.  

Taylor is averaging 14.7 p.p.g. a game for the Chicago Sky. What's the back story on the 25 yr. old rookie in the league? 

She spent her first four years of college at the University of Massachusetts, after helping high school team St. Joseph's (NY) to four straight CHSAA championships and a state title her senor year.  

At UMass, she built a solid career. In her senior year, she was Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference, scored over 1000 career points and put up 30 against Dayton. Her number were impressive but not quite WNBA type of numbers...so she took a fifth year of eligibility and came to Louisville. 

She arrived with the Cards in April 2023, after a nice stint playing USA U23 basketball and going to places such as Chile, Mongolia and Canada. She also was named the GLOBL JAM MVP after hitting the game-winning three against Canada to win the gold medal for  the USA. 

That graduate year was very significant in Taylor's basketball development...in no small part because of the Cardinals coaches. She lead the squad in the 2023-24 season with 57 made threes and was second best i scoring with 10.8 p.p.g.  She celebrated Paulie's birthday by scoring 31 points against Georgia Tech on Feb. 22nd., 2024.  Walz, Norman, Pineda and Robinson knew they had lightning in a bottle

But, she went undrafted in the WNBA draft that year. She tried the Euro circuit. Spent time in Lithuania and won a championship in 2025, then went to MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec in Poland to start 2026.

She was playing ball in the EuroLeague in 2026 for that same Polish team but had not given up her WNBA dreams just yet. and wrangled an invitation to Chicago on a training camp contract. 

"I'd been dreaming about it ever since early in my college career. I really believed it could happen, even when i was overseas and I was, like, I'm gonna get there." 

In a preseason game with the Sky, she scored 21 points and made the Sky roster, as a spark off the bench.  Her drive, desire and determination was paying off. She put up 27 in a loss to Toronto...then 30 in a loss to the Indiana Fever. It's was looking like she was "Taylor made" for the Sky. 

"Sydney knows what she is capable of. She comes in, she wants to make an impact and she does that." Sky coach Tyler Marsh has said about her. "The gravity she holds as a scorer impacts itself even when she is not scoring. People now know what she is capable of doing, nd that in itself holds some weight when she is pout there." 

Marsh moved her to the starting lineup on June 17.  

She is now a highly touted candidate for rookie of the Year in the WNBA along with Olivia Miles (Minnesota) and Azzi Fudd (Dallas). Although everyone is ready to hand the award to Miles, never count out the girl from Long Island ,who overcame long odds to get to the WNBA. 

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If anyone attended the Red & Black volleyball Scrimmage and would like to leave a synopsis or account of what you saw, please leave a comment in our comments section. All we can find out is that Black won, and that the players played on both teams. Thanks. 

paulie

Cards FH Eighth in ACC Preseason Poll -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 Plenty of room for UofL to surprise in ACC Pre-Season Field Hockey Poll

Field Hockey season kicks off in two weeks for the nine ACC school participants In a league that is probably the best in NCAA DI Field Hockey...chock full of traditional powerhouses like North Carolina, Duke, Virginia and Wake Forest....the Cards have been selected to finish 8th in the league, with 19 points. Only California, with 17 points was selected lower than the Cards. 

So, Louisville could play the role of spoiler in a lot of ACC contests.  The Cards will have two exhibitions before the regular season begins...facing Bellarmine on the 19th of August at Trager and at Ball St. (in Muncie) on the 22nd before starting regular season action against Miami (OH) on the 28th at Trager. 

What are the standings? To explain, first, points are awarded depending on how high the voter thinks the particular school will finish. For the 2026 ACC Poll the voting was: 

1. North Carolina 73 (with four first place votes)                                                                              

2. Virginia 68  (with two first place votes) 

                                                                                     

T-3. Duke 64 (with one first place vote)                                                                                          

T-3. Wake Forest 64 (with two first place vote)                                                                                

5. Syracuse 42                                                                                                                                

6. Boston College 31                                                                                                                      

7. Stanford 27                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

8. Louisville 19                                                                                                                                

9. California 17                                                                                                                                

No surprise that the three newest teams to the ACC are the bottom three ranked.  Each team plays eight conference games and there is a ACC Field Hockey Tournament at the end omthe season. 

Louisville certainly has one of the best facilities around for field hockey out at Trager and the overall success of women's sports on campus would indicate Louisville can be successful in the highly competitive ACC. Since joining the league, though, Louisville field Hockey is 30-43 against other ACC schools.  

Here's hoping the Cards can turn things over .500 in conference play this season. The 2-6 conference mark last season needs a shot of adrenalin.   

paulie                                                                                                                        

 

Louisville Softball Adds Three to Roster -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 TILL, DEWATERS & SITARSKI JOIN HIT AND RUN CARDS

The 2027 Louisville Cardinals Softball squad will have a trio of transfers joining the roster. Coming into join the squad are Abbie DeWaters, Kaidance Till and Mak Sitarski. 

Abbie DeWaters

Abbie DeWaters was a freshman catcher last season at the University of South Florida. She batted .206 in 19 games played for the Bulls. She hails from Tobe Sounds, FL where she played for South Fork High School. 

Dewaters thoughts on becoming a Cards Softballer? 

"After visiting campus and meeting the coaches, I knew Louisville was the right place for me. The culture they have built and the energy around the team made me feel at home and it just seemed like the perfect fit." 

Kaidance Till

Kaidance Till redshirted last season at Ole Miss and hails from Metamora Township High School in Germantown Hills, Illinois. She is an infielder and was on four All Coference squads and NFCA All-American in 2025. 

What she said about joining the Cardinals ranks: 

"From the start, the coaches were amazing I felt very welcomed the moment I stepped on campus. The culture of the team was exactly what I was looking for. The coaching staff is genuinely a dream come true. I'm so thankful for the opportunity the coaches are giving me and the trust they have in me to become a part of their program." 

Mak Sitarski

Mak Sitarski is an outfield who heads to Louisville after a freshman season at Toledo. She is out of Allen Park, Michigan and was a three time All-Michigan selection at Allen Park High School. 

In her lone season with the Ole Miss rebels, she played in 29 games and made 13 starts in left field. 

"I chose Louisville Softball because of the speed of the offense and their unpredictability at the plate. " she said, about transferring to the Cards. "I love the aggressiveness on the basepaths and the overall grit of the team. The coaches made me feel one of the family beginning on Day One."  

L's up and a hearty welcome to the three newest Cardinals. Hit 'em where they ain't and catch everything hit your way!  

paulie

Huskers Shuck Cards WSOC 3-1 -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 NORTON ERA BEGINS WITH A STUBBED TOE 

The start of a new Louisville women's soccer season. A team that was coming off a very successful season last year and had played two impressive exhibitions. Bringing in a Nebraska squad that had not done too well in their season opening exhibition. 

What a difference a change in venue and opponent can make. Let's use the term "Husker Du" ...not referring to the American punk rock band that churned out memorable songs like "Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely" and "The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill". but the positive showing the women's soccer squad out of Lincoln, Nebraska had in the city known for bourbon. 

Scoring right off the bat,  with just three minutes off the clock in the first half, when Nathalie Lewis broke free on a jail brealk and planted one in the net past UofL goalkeep Kailey Kimball for the first goal of the match. 

LINK: Lewis scores on Louisville  

Nebraska would add a second goal, a long attempt...seemingly from the Louisville Lacrosse stadium to take a commanding 2-0 lead into the half-time locker room.  

The Huskers would add a third score in the second half before Louisville managed to get on the board with just 12 minutes left in the contest, when Liz Eddy found Liza Suydam on a pass for the final score of the game. 

Maybe this stat best exemplifies the Cards frustration on the pitch last night...the Cards had 18 shots and one goal.  

So...the Norton era at UofL women's soccer starts out with a stumble. The Cards kickers will get a chance for redemption and to even the season record when they bring in IU Indy to Lynn on Saturday. 

paulie

Cards WSOC opens 2026 season against Nebraska tonight --WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CORNHUSKERS VS CARDS TONIGHT AT 7:30 

Kayma Carpenter Univ. of Nebraska

We finally get into the UofL women's fall sports schedule...when Louisville women's soccer takes on Nebraska tonight at Lynn Stadium on the UofL campus at 7:30 p.m.

The Nebraska squad comes into Louisville to open their regular season as well. The have had an exhibition game, against Colorado St. but fell to the Rams 3-1. The contest will be shown on the ACC Network Extra. If UofL had an exhibition contest, it ws not made public. 

The Hunter Norton era begins at UofL with the retirement of long-time coach Karen Ferguson Dayes. Norton, a long time assistant at UofL...was named the head coach of the Cards in February, after "Coach Karen" retired after 26 years as the Cards skipper. She began in the year 2000 and amassed 224 wins. 

Nebraska head coach John Walker enters his 33rd. year as the Cornhuskers skipper. 

Who to watch for Nebraska? Kayma Carpenter, Ella Guyott and Ella Rudney are considered to be the best of the lot in Lincoln. . 

Carpenter had 15 points as a junior for Nebraska. She is a senior out of Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Ella Guyott is a senior midfielder/forward who sat out her junior year due to injury but was a solid sophomore for Nebraska and was named a Big Ten Player to Watch for the 2026 season.

Ella Rudney

Ella Rudney started every game for Nebraska last year as a midfielder and had 15 points. 

Admission is free for UofL women's soccer games. 

Good luck to the Cards for the start to their season! We'll have the recap tomorrow here at the site. 

paulie

Carys Baker a great addition to Louisville WBB -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

BAKER BOLSTERS UofL WBB FRONT LINE. 

Carys Baker had a very good season as a Hokie last year, with 14.3 p.p.g, 6.9 rebounds and was the second leading scorer for VT, just behind guard Wenzel Carleigh. Carleigh had 498 points for VT and Baker had 471. Both played in 33 games for the Blacksburg school, who went 12-6 in conference and 23-10 overall. 

However... she won't be in the maroon and burnt orange colors for her senior year. She has decided to wear the red and black and will be going to UofL for her senior senior. 

She's projected to be a starter for Walz & company, along with Tajianna Roberts, Mackenly Randolph, Zamareya Jones and Elif Istanbulluoglu. Depending on who you read, there are other starting lineups being touted, let's face it, only Jeff Walz knows for sure, and...it isn't as important  as who starts, it's who is out there in crunch time or the close thriller. 

Baker, a 6'2" forward, is a talented perimeter shooter and should fit in quite well with the Walz up-and-down the court style of offensive attack .

Basketball is in her blood...she's the daughter of NBA great and Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Vin Baker.

Carys led VT is threes made in the 2025=26 season with 56.  When she and the Hokies faced UofL last year in the KFC YUM! Center she had 16 points and nine rebounds in the 85-60 loss to the Cards. 

She'll be a welcome addition to the Cards and we look forward to seeing her participate as a Card!  

paulie

Louisville WBB offers Edmondson -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CLASS OF 2030 5'11" GUARD JYLIN EDMONDSON PICKS UP UOFL OFFER

where she started...

She already has an impressive resume..and now the George Rogers Clark guard has a offer from UofL WBB. 

She was at Franklin Country in 2025 and a part of the 2025 Kentucky 2A championship team. She also plays for FBC United Young Gunz on the travel circuit.

She runs the floor quite well for a freshman and has a deadly pull up jumper. 

She first began drawing notices when she was an eight grader at Boyd County, and is considered one of the elite already in Kentucky Girls High school basketball. 

She has a high basketball IQ and has also received offers from Florida St., Mississippi St. and Pittsburgh..in addition to Louisville, so far

Jylin released the Louisville offer news after speaking with UofL associate head coach Jonneisha Pineda.   

We hope that the Cards can land this elite baller but you can rest assured that the offers will continue to pour in for Jylin. 

paulie

Five key players essential to Louisville women's soccer successes -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CAN CARDS WSOC IMPROVE ON 13-5-3 2025 SEASON?

Ashlyn Hule

Louisville Women's Soccer goes into the 2026 season after a very good 2025 season where they went 13-5-2 and 6-2-2 in the ACC. And, now...with Hunter Norton in his first season, Cardinal fans will hope that the soccer squad can keep up the success. 

Junior Amelia Swinarski stands out as the primary returning star. She led the Cards in goals last season with 10, and also accumulated 30 points. 

Along with Swinarski, these other four players are expected to be significant contributors to the squad. 

-- Ella Bard, a sophomore defender, was named to the U.S Under 20 National Team Camp.

-- Grace Maddox, a junior defender, is another returning key anchor to the defensive line. 

-- Ashlyn Hule goes into her sophomore season as a forward with high scoring potential.

-- Kiley Peat will be a sophomore midfielder who contributed scoring last year and figures to add to that. 

Louisville brings in six transfers and five freshmen to the roster. The Cards were picked to finish ninth in the ACC preseason poll 

paulie

  

Louisville women's soccer opens 2026 season in five days -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CORNHUSKERS COME TO LYNN TO BEGIN CARDS SEASON

Nebraska WSOC

Imagine having the same coach for 33 yrs. Imagine having the coach that started the program still in place.In this day of NIL and colleges dumping coaches if they  drop below .500, John walker is a rarity. 

When Nebtaska decided to field a women's soccer team back in 1992, they selected Walker as their head coach. Going into his 33rd season, Walked will be on the sidelines when Nebraska comes to town on Wednesday, Aug 12th. in the season opener fo rboth squads. 

Walker is 372--203-62 in his only head coaching job and has been in both the Big12 and Big 10 conferences in his reign at Nebraska. 

Using a unique coaching style, he has built a well-respected program and draws the best of talent around the nation to Huskers soccer. 

They have already played a match this season...falling to Colorado St. 3-1 on Aug. 5th at Ft. Collins  Granted it was a exhibition match..but the Nebraska squad but could only get a goal from Reese Borer. 

Louisville head women's soccer coach Hunter Norton begnis his first seson as the UofL head coach.

The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be on ACC Network Extra online...if fyou can't go.. We won't have live coverage of the match, since I have been banned from attending any UofL women's athletic events or press conferences as a media person. I would assume I could still atttend matches as a fan ,buy health issues have me sidelines .If you are interested on what Norton and Swinarski had to say in a presser yesterday, it is linked up below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8w7Fm7TFqw&t=21s   . Norton and Swinarski.

...

paulie

Cards On The Table a fresh look at player interviews -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 EPISODE ONE of CARDS ON THE TABLE AN IN DEPTH DISCUSSION BETWEEN "E", IMARI and TAJIANNA AND MACKENLY

Cards On The Table isn't a new campus game of cards or hijinks in the team's dining area.

What it is..is an nicely moderated discussion with moderator Mackenly Randolph.and three current Cardinals Women's basketball players. Episode One features Elif Istanbulluoglu , Tajianna Roberts,MacKenly  Randolph and Imarr Berry.

Randolph asks the other three players questions and they respond to her. She is a natural for the moderator's role and the players respond well to her and also seem to be having a lot of fun taping the segment. 

It is a unique and well-designed format, where the discussion is free flowing and pretty funny at times...but the over 30 minute production is fast paced and informative. Walz is one of the topics that they discuss. 

One area they talk a lot about is the Versa. To explain it, the Versa is not the phrase "Vice versa" but a piece of equipment workout that involves upper and lower body vertical climbing movements. The low-impact training build high aerobic endurance and muscular strength without heavy joint stress from running. 

Click HERE. for a clip of the Versa Climber. 

This is supposed to be a regular feature that UofL WBB will be doing, and we look forward to the next one. 

paulie