For Chicago Sky Guard Jacy Sheldon, her third season in the WNBA brought new experiences, new teammates and an opportunity to find her place within the Sky organization.

After playing for multiple teams in her first three seasons, Sheldon learned from different
coaches, teammates, and organizational cultures. Now in Chicago, she found a group of
people whose relationships and approach to one another have stood out to her.

“I think one thing our culture here values a lot is just how we treat each other,” Sheldon said. “I
think this team, we all like each other, and it shows on the court. We come in here and have fun.”

For Sheldon, the transition to Chicago is about more than basketball. It is an opportunity to build relationships, contribute as a teammate, and continue developing alongside a group she is excited to be part of.

A New Chapter in Chicago

Sheldon’s arrival in Chicago came with an unexpected connection to the city. The day before
finding out she would be joining the Sky Sheldon attended a Chicago Bulls game while in
Washington for offseason workouts.

“I went to a Bulls game in Washington the day before I found out,” Sheldon said. “We were
doing workouts in Washington and found out while I was here. I packed my car up that day and
headed straight to Chicago.”

Sheldon said she was excited about the opportunity, having already heard about what the Sky
was building.

“I’d heard a lot about Chicago and what they were building there,” Sheldon said.

Since arriving, Sheldon said the people throughout the organization made the biggest
impression on her.

“The girls have been great, just getting to know them and competing with them, learning from
them,” Sheldon said. “That’s been my favorite part, and I’m looking forward to moving into next
season, too.”

Sheldon also highlighted the city and the support from Sky fans as important parts of her
experience.

“This city’s also so beautiful,” Sheldon said. “Our fans have been amazing.”

The relationships she has formed with her teammates and others throughout the organizations
are a central part of her experience in Chicago.

“I think my favorite part is the people and the relationships I’ve been able to form with everyone
here,” Sheldon said. “They are amazing people from top to bottom, organizationally and the
players.”

As she looks ahead, Sheldon is focused on continuing to build those relationships and carrying
the experience into the next season.

A Competitor From The Start

Toughness and competitiveness have long been associated with Sheldon’s approach to
basketball, For her, those qualities began well before her professional career.

Growing up in a family with a strong athletic background, Sheldon was surrounded by
competition from an early age. Her father coached basketball throughout much of her childhood,
while her mother coached volleyball.

“My dad was a basketball coach pretty much my whole childhood and my mom was a volleyball
coach, so I was kind of raised that way and grew up competing with my brother in whatever gym
we could find,” Sheldon said.

Sheldon also credited growing up playing with boys and developing a competitive mindset as
important influences.

"And I think it’s a mindset, too,” Sheldon said. “So that’s stuck with me, obviously, up until this
point.”

That mentality has carried into approach with the Sky, where Sheldon wants to contribute on
both ends of the floor while being a teammate others can depend on.

When she first arrived in Chicago, she wanted her teammates and coaches to understand that she
would bring competitiveness, versatility and a commitment to the group.

“Just so they’d be getting a really good competitor and also a really good teammate,” Sheldon
said of her mindset. “[I'm] someone who can score the ball and also get after it on the defensive end and play both ways, but [also] someone who’s going to have their teammates’ backs as well and compete for each.”

For Sheldon, that means doing whatever she can to help the team win.

Making an Impact Beyond Basketball

While Sheldon’s competitiveness is a defining part of her identity on the court, she also hope Sky
fans come to understand more about who she is away from basketball.

One area particularly important to Sheldon is her work supporting individuals with special needs,
a commitment she has developed through her work with her sister.

“I’ve been building my brand around individuals with special needs, and I’ve done a lot with the
organization and my sister,” Sheldon said. “That’s something I hope that people dive into a little
bit and start to see the change in that area that we can make.”

For Sheldon, that work is an important part of how she hopes to use her platform and connect
with people beyond the game.

When asked what she hopes fans understand about her beyond what they see on the court, Sheldon pointed to her work ethic, determination and commitment to others.

Those qualities, she hopes, are evident both in her work in the community and in the way she
approaches being a teammate.

“But with that being said, [I'll bring] that same competitiveness and fight and drive and [am] someone who will ride for her teammates always,” Sheldon said.