Former Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon was taken with the fifth overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the 2024 WNBA Draft on Monday, but with the season set to begin on May 14, it will be a quick transition as she looks to begin her professional career.
“I think there’s going to be an adjustment period for all of us, whether people want to admit it or not. I’m looking forward to it and welcoming it,” Sheldon said on Monday after her selection by Dallas. “As a rookie I think that’s something you have to accept and be ready for.
“The pace, the length, I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of things that are a little different and it’ll take some time to get used to, but I’m welcoming that challenge and looking forward to it.”
Sheldon has put herself in a strong position to be competitive on a WNBA roster, as she excelled on the defensive end of the floor at Ohio State and is also an accomplished shoorter. The Wings allowed opposing teams to shoot 44.4 percent from the field while registering a league-low 5.9 steals per game and also shot a league-low 31.7 percent from deep last season, all areas Sheldon should be able to help.
“We’ve had really good discussions,” Sheldon said. “Coach (Latricia Trammell) is awesome and just being able to talk about their system and how they like to do things there was awesome for me to learn, and I’m sure I’ll be having more conversations soon, but like I said, they’ve been really good, and I’m looking forward to talking to them more.”
Beyond the opportunity to contribute for Dallas, Sheldon is also looking forward to her introduction to the WNBA and playing alongside – and across from – those she has looked up to during her journey.
“It’s a surreal moment because I grew up as a little kid watching all these women play and how talented they are and being able to have a chance to play with them and compete against them, it’s a dream,” she said. “It’s what we all are here for, and it’s what we’re looking forward to.
“I’m excited. I’ve seen the growth. Everyone has seen the growth, and to be a part of that is something that is really rare, so I’m looking forward to it.
