SHYLA HEAL GEELONG BOUND
Geelong’s WNBL squad is pleased to welcome its newest addition, Shyla Heal.
After two dominant seasons in Europe, most recently as a top 5 scorer in the top Turkish League, as well as success in Poland, Israel and France, Shyla was a highly sought after free agent in Europe and turned down a range of lucrative offers to sign with Geelong in a bid to bring a WNBL title to the region. She returns to the WNBL for the first time since winning a championship with Townsville in 2023, and fresh off training camp with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the club,” Shyla said. “I feel like I’ve got an opportunity to help women’s basketball to take a step forward and keep growing in Geelong and the outer regions.”
Not only was it the city itself that drew Shyla to signing in Geelong, but also the belief in ownership and direction of the club.
“I had meetings with Chris and the ownership and they really sold me on the clubs vision. Chris is a very experienced coach and I’m excited to play for him,” Shyla Said. “What also drew me to Geelong was the girls I will be playing with. I went to the AIS with a few of the girls already on the team, Jaz, Gemma, Ellissa and Taylor, so that was a positive for me because I know we will have a great culture with great people around and also have a chance to seriously compete.”
Shyla will look to be a high level contributor in her maiden Geelong season – Head Coach Chris Lucas believing the WNBL will be the perfect place for Shyla to showcase her tremendous growth as a player these last few seasons.
“Shyla’s made tremendous improvement at both ends of the floor over the last couple of years in Europe, which is a massive credit to her and the hard work she puts in,” said Lucas. “I just feel like she’s gone to another level, and is still a very determined young athlete that wants to get better.”
When asked what Shyla adds to the team that might have been missing in season one, Chris see’s her filling a key role, “We’ve got a true point guard now, someone that can carry the team. I think her and Jaz Shelley are going to be a terrific combo in the back court. To have somebody purely run the point guard and be an extension of me on the floor is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Daughter of former Geelong NBL player and Australian Boomers great Shane Heal, Shyla will continue the proud legacy of the Heal name representing Geelong basketball.