Heal hungry to spark after swapping Flames for Fire
SHYLA Heal has spoken for the first time in the wake of her shock mid-season move from Sydney to Townsville, revealing she entertained overseas offers before committing to the Fire.
Heal’s split from the Flames was confirmed Wednesday – the same day she made her return to the Fire in a 91-81 comeback win over the Lynx.
Father, Shane Heal, an Australian basketball great, has not coached Sydney since January 15 and it has since emerged the Flames have launched an investigation.
Shyla Heal, 21, ended an asyet unexplained three-game absence from the Flames by scoring seven points off the bench in 20 minutes for the club she helped lead to the 2020 WNBL grand final.
“I’m feeling really good, it’s great to be back with the Townsville team, I really missed it and I’m just really glad,” Shyla Heal said on Kayo Sports, post-game.
“I had offers overseas, so I was training every day to go overseas but then this came up and I just really wanted to come play for (Fire coach) Shannon (Seebohm) again.”
The Fire, before Wednesday night, had seven games left in their season — the exact number required, under WNBL rules, to qualify a player for finals.
It added to the urgency for Shyla Heal, who wore a No.9 jersey without her name on the back, to make it to Perth, but prompted WNBL star Kelsey Griffin to call on the league to consider a transfer deadline.
“Maybe this is something where we look to other leagues across the world, EuroLeague. WNBA, NBA and is it time to maybe have a deadline, a point in the season, instead of games played, a date that these acquisitions can occur?” Griffin said on Kayo Sports.
Neither Heal, nor Sydney, have given a reason for Shyla Heal’s departure or her father’s absence from the sidelines.
Seebohm said he was pleased to have Shyla back at the Fire.
“Really happy, she’s a great kid,” Seebohm said.