Australian basketballer Shyla Heal has been drafted to the Chicago Sky in the 2021 WNBA Draft. Nineteen-year old Shyla Heal, a member of the Chemist Warehouse Australian Opals, joined a raft of Opals’ teammates in the WNBA as she was selected as pick number 8 in the First Round of the 16 April Draft.
Shyla is coming off a standout season for the JCU Townsville Fire in the 2020 Chemist Warehouse WNBL, where she averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. For her feats, Heal was named the Betty Watson Australian Youth Player of the Year and selected in the All-WNBL Second Team.
Speaking on Heal’s selection in the WNBA Draft, Australia’s most successful WNBA athlete and BA Head of Women in Basketball Lauren Jackson AO said, “A huge congratulations to Shyla (Heal) on being picked in the First Round of this year’s WNBA Draft. “Everyone who has watched Shyla in the Chemist Warehouse WNBL over recent seasons knows how incredibly talented she is but it’s her hard work away from the cameras which is even more impressive.
“The WNBA is the best league in the world and to be playing with and against some of the world’s greatest will only take per game to the next level. We now have a strong contingent of Australian athletes in the WNBA which is a reflection of our elite high performance pathway including the Chemist Warehouse WNBL. I can’t wait to see Shyla and our other Opals light it up in the WNBA this season, as we look forward to the Tokyo Olympics and the 2021-22 WNBL.”
While fellow Opals squad member Tiana Mangakahia wasn’t selected in today’s Draft, it’s hoped she will be picked up as a undrafted free agent.
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