Connecticut Sun guard and one of our newest VIS Mentors, Jacy Sheldon, is thriving in a new environment after being traded from the Dallas Wings in February. We caught up with the second year pro as the Sun took on the Chicago Sky on June 15th. Sheldon is set on embracing the rebuild after the Sun lost key starters in the offseason, proving that hustle is more than a statline, and mentoring the next generation of young girl athletes.
Fresh Start, Fresh Perspective
Sheldon found herself in Connecticut this offseason joining a team that is currently under an intense rebuilding year. Despite this, Sheldon viewed her trade as an opportunity to redefine success for the Sun and help build something new.
“I think it is very exciting. And I think sometimes that's not somebody's first thought when they get traded. I was excited right from the jump. And obviously getting to know these girls, getting to know the staff, the organization, they've been amazing. Nothing short of amazing. And it's really a family here,” she said.
Looking forward, Sheldon and the Sun have put an emphasis on building strong relationships both on and off the court in order to find more success. Continuing to build chemistry and trust within each other is a top priority, especially for a group with many new faces.
“I'm just excited to give back and kind of have those conversations and give a little bit of my insight. It's going to be fun.”
No Stat to Measure Hustle
Something that stands out while watching Sheldon play is her hustle. As an extremely gritty, defensive-minded player, she gets a lot of the dirty work done which isn’t always something reflected in box scores. But it doesn’t make this work any less important.
“I actually just watched an interview with an NBA player that said playing hard is a skill, and I really do believe that. I think it's one of the deadliest skills in the game, to go out there and play as hard as you can on both sides of the floor,” she explained.
Though it’s just her second season in the WNBA, Sheldon has learned that this league is not for the weak, both physically and mentally. Not only has she leaned on the veterans on her team for guidance and advice, but she lives by controlling the controllables. “I think that's everything. Controlling what you can control at all times. And I think that's what your focus has to remain on. I think if not, you can kind of start to point fingers and look other ways. And that's not what successful teams and teammates do,” she says. Sheldon said this is especially true during tough times.
Giving back as a mentor
Though she is still a young player herself, Sheldon is looking forward to being one of our new Mentors here at VIS. She says she is excited to provide young women and girls with her perspective and firsthand experiences in sport.
“I'm so excited. I think just bringing some of my personal experiences, whether it's recovering from injury, leadership, things like that. And little things I've learned all throughout my life when being involved in sports and off the floor. So I'm just excited to give back and kind of have those conversations and give a little bit of my insight. It's going to be fun,” she said.
In a league that demands more than talent, Sheldon is proving that effort, attitude, and perspective are valuable attributes as an athlete and teammate. For the Connecticut Sun, she’s not just part of the rebuild. She is a part of setting the standard and passing on her knowledge to the next generation.
