You’ve got heard all season about how particular this rookie class has been. We have completed rookie experiences on stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Right now, we’ll have a look at one other rookie who has fought to earn a beginning spot and shined in that function: Jacy Sheldon.
Chosen at No. 5 general within the 2024 WNBA Draft, Sheldon isn’t an unknown participant however has been neglected amidst the hype for Clark, Reese and Cameron Brink. That is to not say these gamers do not deserve that spotlight or aren’t higher than Sheldon is at this second, however she needs to be getting extra recognition for what she’s completed.
She entered a Dallas Wings workforce coming off its greatest postseason end of the Arike Ogunbowale period, hoping to be one of many high 4 groups within the WNBA. Now that hasn’t materialized, primarily as a result of Satou Sabally missed all video games earlier than the Olympics as a consequence of harm. Nonetheless, gamers like Sheldon have been a brilliant spot in a season of darkness.
Throughout the opening components of the season, Sheldon was doing what many rookies do: trip the bench. She was nonetheless taking part in, however solely 13.5 minutes per sport, averaging 2.7 factors, 1.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists as a bench participant. By mid-June, accidents to quite a few different gamers gave Sheldon the chance to begin, and she or he has by no means seemed again. She’s continued to begin and is taking part in 28.6 minutes per sport, totaling 6.7 factors, 2.5 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists as a starter. These stats put her within the high 10 in rebounds and scoring on this rookie class.
The numbers won’t be as stunning as Clark’s scoring or as dominant as Reese’s rebounding, however Sheldon is the quintessential star in her function. Because the Wings have seemed for stable play on the guard place, she’s supplied a spark and a baseline of consistency unusual for a rookie.
I’m impressed with Jacy Sheldon.
Sheldon had 8 pts, 4 asterisks 3 stls, 1 reb
Stats received’t present the total image of how a lot power she places in defending the opposing workforce’s greatest perimeter gamers.
I requested her about discovering her area of interest and her intangibles.#WNBA| @WingsBulletin pic.twitter.com/uQhdZDAYbM
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) September 1, 2024
With Dallas showing outdoors of the playoff race, they’re going to have to determine find out how to regroup from this disappointing 12 months. The excellent news in Texas is that the core of a stable workforce is current. They’ve Ogunbowale as a famous person guard and Sabally as a presence on the ahead place. Now, Sheldon is a complementary piece that may be a part of this franchise’s future.
