Shyla Heal

Shyla Heal (born 19 September 2001) is an Australian professional basketball player.[1]

Shyla Heal
No. 4 – Sydney Uni Flames
PositionGuard
Personal information
Born (2001-09-19) 19 September 2001
Kogarah, New South Wales
NationalityAustralian
Listed height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Career information
High schoolLake Ginninderra College
(Canberra, ACT)
WNBA draft2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2016South East Queensland Stars
2018–2019Perth Lynx
2019–2020Bendigo Spirit
2020Townsville Fire
2021Chicago Sky
2021-PresentSydney Uni Flames
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

WNBL

During the 2015–16 WNBL season, Heal spent a period of time as a development player with the newly founded South East Queensland Stars.[2] Heal began her WNBL career at the age of 14, making her one of the youngest debutants in WNBL history.

In 2018, Heal returned to the league after signing a full-time two-year contract with the Perth Lynx for the 2018–19 season.[3] This signing and her partaking in the league on a professional contract, meant that Heal would no longer be eligible for college basketball. After a season dealing with injury, Heal opted out of her second year with the Lynx.[4]

In 2019, Heal signed with the Bendigo Spirit for the 2019–20 WNBL season.[5] In her debut season with the Spirit, Heal was awarded the Most Consistent Player for her showings, averaging 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds.[6]

In 2020, Heal ventured North and signed with the Townsville Fire for the 2020–21 WNBL season.[7]

WNBA

In the 2021 WNBA draft, she was selected in the first round by the Chicago Sky. She played 4 games with the Sky before being traded to the Dallas Wings in June 2021 and immediately waived.

National team career

Youth Level

Heal made her international debut for the Sapphires at the 2017 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship in Hagåtña, Guam, where Australia would take home the gold.[8] Heal was named MVP to the Championship game. In 2017, Heal also helped lead the Sapphires to gold at the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship in Bengaluru, India.[9] Heal would then go on to represent the Sapphires at the Under-17 World Cup in Belarus the following year, where they finished in third place, taking home the bronze medal. Heal also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, awarded to the five strongest players of the tournament, after averaging 16.0 points per game.[10]

Heal then made her debut for the Gems at the 2019 Under-19 World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, where the Gems took home silver after returning to the final for the first time since 1997.[11]

Personal life

Shyla is the daughter of former Australian Boomer and NBA player, Shane Heal.[12][13]

References
  1. Pinda, Anthony (11 April 2019). "WNBL: Bendigo Spirit signs Shyla Heal". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. "Regular Season Round 1: SEQ - Bendigo". eurobasket.com.
  3. "PERTH LYNX ADD YOUNG GUN SHYLA HEAL". Perth Lynx. wnbl.com.au. 10 July 2018.
  4. Shyla Heal Statement
  5. "TENACIOUS HEAL SIGNS WITH BENDIGO SPIRIT". Bendigo Spirit. wnbl.com.au. 11 April 2019.
  6. "Bendigo Spirit on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.
  7. "ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PROSPECTS IN AUSTRALIA HEADING TO TOWNSVILLE". Townsville Fire. wnbl.com.au. 8 June 2020.
  8. "Australia continue their gold standard with FIBA U17 Women's Oceania Championship". fiba.basketball.
  9. "Sapphires go undefeated to claim 2017 FIBA U16 Asia crown". pickandroll.com.au.
  10. "Jordan Horston named U17 Women's World Cup TISSOT MVP, leads All-Star Five". fiba.com.
  11. "USA back on top of the world after recapturing lost title in Bangkok". FIBA.
  12. "Shyla following in Shane Heal's footsteps at Lake Ginninderra College". smh.com.au. 27 September 2017.
  13. "Lynx teenager Heal joins in at right time". The West Australian. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
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