​Jacy Sheldon has already navigated a significant amount of change early in her WNBA career, and she’s embracing the new chapter with the Chicago Sky. The third-year guard recently joined Chicago, and while switching teams hasn’t always been easy, she’s found value in starting fresh in a new city. “Chicago’s been great,” she said ahead of Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. “It’s an amazing city. It’s still in the Midwest, so I’m back home. I’ve enjoyed it so far.”
Even amid constant changes, Sheldon has kept her attention on what she can control. “I think with a lot of change comes a lot of focus on what you can get better at every year,” she explained. “The things I can control are my work ethic, and I think that’s been pretty consistent my whole life.” That steady approach has helped her grow while adapting to new teammates, coaches, and systems.
One of the biggest adjustments for Sheldon has been mastering the pace of the professional game. She found that the WNBA can feel slower at times than college, despite moments when she can push the tempo. “There are times where you can push the pace, and there are times where you have to slow down and control your offense,” she noted.
As she prepared for Friday’s matchup with the Sparks, Sheldon anticipated Los Angeles’ athletic perimeter defenders to make every possession challenging. “They’re really good at guarding that first action,” she said. “For us, it’s getting to our second actions, moving the ball side to side and making them guard us late into the shot clock.” Defense, too, has become a defining part of Sheldon’s game. “My focus is just trying to make them uncomfortable out there,” she stated. “When the guards are aggressive defensively, it gets everybody going.”
Away from the court, Sheldon is deeply involved with Beyond Ability Matters, a nonprofit founded by her aunt in 2018 that provides housing, services, and life experiences for adults with special needs. “It’s within our family,” she explained. “I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with them when I’m home.” She shared how participants have traveled to places like Japan and Florida, building friendships and gaining new experiences along the way. “They’ve gone to so many cool places and had so many experiences,” Sheldon said. “Watching these adults grow throughout their lives has been a joy for me.”
Basketball understandably dominates her season, but Sheldon hopes to deepen her involvement with Beyond Ability Matters during the offseason. “It’s hard during the season because we’re so focused on basketball,” she acknowledged. “But I’d like to get more involved in the offseason.” For now, though, her focus is clear and unwavering: stay committed, keep improving, and maximize the impact she can make, both on the court and in her community.