May 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Sky guard Jacy Sheldon (0) brings the ball up court past Minnesota Lynx forward Natasha Howard (1) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Transitioning from a standout collegiate career to the professional ranks of the WNBA requires more than just physical talent. For Chicago Sky guard Jacy Sheldon, it demands a constant willingness to evolve, refine her craft, and embrace new roles in a highly competitive environment.
Rewiring the Defensive Approach
Since her days at The Ohio State State University, Sheldon earned a reputation for her relentless defensive tenacity. However, adjusting to the perimeter defense demands of matching up against starting-level WNBA guards meant rewiring her approach to that side of the floor.
“At Ohio State we pressed a lot, so it wasn’t a lot of half-court defense,” Sheldon said. “And when it was, it was kind of you’re scrambling around. So I think going to this level, it’s kind of the opposite. It’s kind of a lot of half-court defense and when you are pressing it’s not a scramble kind of defense there.”
Despite the schematic shift, the Dublin, Ohio native quickly found her footing in the league, discovering that the half-court grind suited her skill set remarkably well.
“I think it’s a big difference, but one that complemented my game in a way,” Sheldon reflected. “I just remember my first year I was kind of surprised at how good I was at it and, you know, it’s the part of the ball that’s fun and kind of gets the energy going.”
Finding an Efficient Rhythm
That energy has naturally carried over to the offensive end of the floor. After flirting with a coveted 50-40-90 shooting percentage season during her previous stints with the Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics, Sheldon, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has established an immediate comfort zone from beyond the arc early this year. In the Sky’s season opener, she dropped 13 points, showcasing a fluid, confident rhythm that kept opposing defenses off-balance.
For Sheldon, maintaining that high level of efficiency comes down to a simple, disciplined philosophy: consistency and gym time.
Chicago Sky guard Jacy Sheldon (0) handles the ball on the perimeter, bringing a dynamic skill set and a high-efficiency mindset to a dangerous new-look Chicago backcourt. (Photo: Maria Nevarez)
“Just trying to stay consistent, you know, and when that’s catch-and-shoot threes, those ones tend to be easier because those are set up by a teammate, right?” Sheldon explained. “And then just staying consistent from the line and just continuing that over to this season. It was cut short in the middle of last season, obviously with the injury. But I think the biggest thing there is consistency and that’s just staying in the gym, seeing the ball go in and then continuing to take good shots.”
That selective nature behind her shot selection highlights Sheldon as an intriguing movement shooter. While her high-percentage decision-making accounts for her excellent shooting metrics, she admits that finding the balance between being selective and letting the ball fly is an ongoing process.
“For me, I tend to only take really good shots, and sometimes I need to take not-so-good shots because, you know, when you can shoot the ball you need to let it fly a little more,” Sheldon said. “So, you know, that’s another reason why I might have been 50-40-90; I’m only taking really good shots and there’s no problem with that. But I think sometimes, you know, you could take some that maybe only shooters shoot.”
Building New Backcourt Chemistry
Sheldon now finds herself as a critical component of a dynamic roster reshuffle in Chicago. Sharing the backcourt with proven veterans like Skylar Diggins and Natasha Cloud, she is tasked with building chemistry on the fly within an explosive, new-look guard rotation.
While the sample size remains early, the early returns indicate a backcourt that can push the pace and orchestrate high-level plays on both sides of the hardwood.
Displaying the relentless perimeter defense that has defined her transition to the WNBA, Chicago Sky guard Jacy Sheldon (0) cuts off a drive baseline. (Photo: Adri Peralta | Trippy Traveler Media)
“It’s fun,” Sheldon said of the new backcourt dynamic. “I think you saw it a little bit in the preseason that chemistry started to build. And then obviously with that first game under our belt, just getting out there, learning to play with each other, learning to make plays off of each other on both ends of the floor. I think the more games we play, the better that’s going to look. But to be honest, in the first game it felt pretty good and I think we’re starting to get comfortable with each other and obviously starting to learn each other’s strengths, weaknesses and play off of that.”
Flexibility will remain a key theme for Sheldon as the season progresses. With a backcourt heavily populated by natural point guards, including veterans like Courtney Vandersloot, Sheldon anticipates flexing out to the wing to maximize Chicago’s versatility.
“I’ll play wherever this team needs me to win,” Sheldon stated. “But yeah, I do think that’ll happen. And, you know, with so many guards, I think at times we’ll—whoever gets the rebound will go and we’ll push.
“But yeah, I think definitely, especially when Sloot’s back, I’ll probably play the wing more. I think I’m fortunate enough in this league I’ve played the one, two and three and guarded the one, two and three, so really comfortable in all three of those positions.”
Resiliency has been part of Sky’s DNA with Sheldon’s versatility being key for Sky head coach Tyler Marsh. Such was prevalent in a Friday, May 15, 2026, game against the Phoenix Mercury, when the Sky nearly pulled off a comeback on the road.
“It’s huge. That’s the identity of this team,” Sheldon recognized. “We never do feel like we’re out of a game no matter what that score is, and I’m proud of the way we fought back, but I think the next step now is don’t get ourselves in those positions, right? But, it’s a hard place to play.”
Bigger Than Basketball
Beyond the hardwood, Sheldon remains deeply committed to using her platform for meaningful advocacy. Her work with Ability Matters, an organization dedicated to empowering adults with special needs, is rooted within her own family through her sister, Emmy, and her aunt Kristyn.
As she builds her new basketball home in Chicago, reuniting with former Dallas Wings head coach, Latricia Trammell, an assistant coach for the Sky, Sheldon is actively bringing that vital mission of inclusion with her, creating opportunities to celebrate and normalize the special needs community.
“They’re actually coming—they’re going to come to two games,” Sheldon shared warmly. “I think she’s bringing a group of 40 each time. So Ability Matters will be in Chicago, which I’m really excited about. But just continuing to spread the happiness they bring and spread them as people and Emmy specifically, just tell—like I love to post Emmy, I love for everyone to get to see her firsthand, because if you don’t have someone with special needs in your family, you don’t know much about them. So I think just normalizing that and continuing to spread the love that they share.”
With an unwavering commitment to her teammates on the court and her advocacy off of it, Sheldon is cementing herself as a foundational presence for the Sky, one consistent shot and defensive stop at a time.
Editor’s Note
Conrado Pascual, our Golden State Valkyries and WNBA Staff Writer, contributed to this feature story onsite at Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
To learn more about the mission of inclusion or to support the organization championed by Jacy Sheldon and her family, you can make a donation directly to Ability Matters at https://abilitymattersohio.com/beyond-ability-matters/donate/.
