Don’t call Shyla Heal a bust. Not now, not ever.
The 5-foot-6 point guard was selected eighth in the 2001 WNBA Draft at the age of 19 by the Chicago Sky after a stellar season for the Townsville Fire of the Australian Women’s National Basketball League, in which she averaged 16.7 points and 3.4 assists.
Following circumstances beyond her control, she was traded after just four games from Chicago to the Dallas Wings, and then cut. On her W experience, Heal emphasized:
I don’t want to blame anyone for the circumstances in Chicago. It was difficult, but I continue to grow on and off the court after playing professionally from a young age.
Now she is on a comeback trail, taking her time and collecting experiences. This year she won her first Australian championship, made her debut for the Australian national team and signed a deal with Polish champions, Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin, to serve as the team’s primary playmaker.
The Playmaker
Shyla Heal has always lived with the burden of expectations weighing heavily on her shoulders. The daughter of a basketball player and coach, she has been training since the age of six and turned pro at the age of 14. The end goal has always been the WNBA.
Her father, Shane, played in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves and San…
 stint in the WNBA, Shyla Heal, the No. 8 pick of the 2021 draft, is taking a patient approach to her hoops career.){kind=link}