Heals team up to ignite the Flames
THE WNBL’s most potent marquee player/coach package is complete – Shyla Heal will join her father Shane at the Sydney Flames on a multi-year deal, starting from the upcoming 2021-22 season.
Only months after Heal Sr linked with the Flames as coach, his daughter Shyla has joined him in a huge coup for the club.
She won’t link with her new Flames teammates until later in the year after she was recently selected as the eighth pick in the 2021 American
WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky.
The rising point guard will move to America to play the WNBA season, which starts on May 14, with the Sky before returning home in November for the WNBL season.
The Sydney local joined the illustrious list of just three others – Lauren Jackson, Liz Cambage and Alanna Smith – as Australian female basketball players to be drafted in the WNBA top 10.
Heal Jr joins the Flames off the back of a breakout season in WNBL20 where she finished in the top five for
scoring, was awarded Youth Player of the Year and was named in the All-WNBL Second Team.
Leading Townsville to a grand final appearance, she averaged 17 points, three assists and five rebounds a game.
Shyla can’t wait to reunite with her father on the professional stage for the first time since she was a development player under him at the South East Queensland Stars when she was just 14.
“I’m really excited to sign in Sydney and play for my dad,” Shyla said.
“He has coached me since
I started playing and always gets the best out me.
“It’s an exciting time to be playing in Sydney with the FIBA Women’s World Cup being played here next year, and I can’t wait to be part of this new-look Flames team.”
Shyla was recently named in the Australian Opals squad vying for a spot to represent the green and gold at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Shane couldn’t be more pleased to connect with his daughter at Sydney.
“I’m extremely happy to have Shyla joining the Flames,” Shane said of his daughter, who is heading into her fifth WNBL season at just 19 years of age.
“Her work ethic and mindset will only enhance the culture we are trying to create in our first year.
“She has shown she can be one of the best point guards in the country, and having her as a key part of our team will help bring out the best in our players and give us a chance to seriously compete immediately.”
Shyla joins Lauren Mansfield and Funda Nakkasoglu as contracted Flames players for the WNBL22 season.