Heading into the draft the Chicago Sky, we’re looking to add point guard depth and defensive improvements. They just achieved that by adding 19-year-old point guard Shyla Heal from Australia with the 8th pick and Natasha Mack from Oklahoma State with the 16th pick.
Heal who is the daughter of former NBA player Shane Heal; began her pro career at just the age of 14, making her one of the youngest stars to debut in WNBL history. After stints with the Perth Lynx and Bendigo Spirit Heal signed with the Townsville Fire.
Shyla Heal comes to Chicago having already faced several WNBA players like Liz Cambage and Ezi Magbegor; Heal will learn from one of the WNBA’s best guards in Courtney Vandersloot. In the 2020 WNBL season Heal averaged 16.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 3.4 APG while shooting 31% from 3 and 42% from the floor.
Chicago also addressed their defensive need by adding Natasha Mack from Oklahoma State University with the 16th pick. Mack who was a defensive leader for the OSU squad finished their season at 19-9, blocked a total of 112 shots in her senior season. Natasha Mack’s defensive leadership and play would earn her the WCBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Not only will Mack provide a defensive punch for Chicago. But the 6’4 center can also fill it up on the offensive end averaging close to 19 ppg in her senior campaign.
Like Heal, Mack will too get the chance to learn from a WNBA legend in Candace Parker; who the Sky gained in free agency.
Adding Mack to its roster now gives Chicago a three-headed defensive monster in the frontcourt with Parker, Williams, and Mack; all of who have been named Defensive Player of the Year in the WNBA, Euro league and NCAA.
Both Heal and Mack will have to compete for a roster spot in Chicago. However, if these two ladies’ talents transfer over to the WNBA; the Chicago Sky could very well have the steals of the draft.
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