WNBL: Shyla Heal opens up after dramatic departure from Sydney Flames

Shyla Heal’s switch from Sydney to Townsville has sparked concern over a WNBL rule that differs from almost every other major league. One star says it’s time to change.

Shyla Heal has spoken for the first time in the wake of her shock mid-season move from Sydney to Townsville, revealing she entertained overseas offers before committing to the Fire.

Heal’s split from the Flames was confirmed Wednesday — the same day she made her return to the Fire in a 91-81 comeback win over the Lynx in Perth.

Father Shane Heal, an Australian basketball great, has not coached Sydney since January 15 and it has since emerged the Flames have launched an investigation.

Shyla Heal, 21, ended an as-yet unexplained three-game absence from the Flames by scoring seven points off the bench in 20 minutes for the club she helped lead to the 2020 WNBL grand final.

Shyla Heal, during her return to the Fire. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m feeling really good, it’s great to be back with the Townsville team, I really missed it and I’m just really glad,” Shyla Heal said on Kayo Sports, post-game.

“I had offers overseas, so I was training every day to go overseas but then this came up and I just really wanted to come play for (Fire coach) Shannon (Seebohm) again.

“I’m really just coming in, doing whatever the team needs and playing whatever role they need, so whether that’s little or big, I’m really excited either way.”

The Fire, before Wednesday night, had seven games left in their season — the exact number required, under WNBL rules, to qualify a player for finals.

It added to the urgency for Shyla Heal, who wore a No. 9 jersey without her name on the back, to make it to Perth, but prompted WNBL star Kelsey Griffin to call on the league to consider a transfer deadline.

Griffin, a two-time league MVP, expressed concern at a potential competitive disadvantage, given most clubs had played too many games to qualify a new player for finals.

“Maybe this is something where we look to other leagues across the world, EuroLeague. WNBA, NBA and is it time to maybe have a deadline, a point in the season, instead of games played, a date that these acquisitions can occur?” Griffin said on Kayo Sports.

Shyla Heal looks for an opening during the clash with Perth. Picture: Getty Images

“Injuries do happen, things happen, there does need to be movement and there needs to be that freedom but is there a point maybe, if there are going to be a different number of games played, that you create a date so that every team has that equal opportunity?”

In a twist of irony, Shyla Heal is the first player to switch clubs in the WNBL since the 2015-16 season when DeNesha Stallworth was released by the South East Queensland Stars — who were then-coached by Shane Heal.

Shyla Heal drives to the rack against the Lynx. Picture: Getty Images

At the time, Shane Heal fired parting shots at the American import, who transferred to the Canberra Capitals, but was unable to play against the Stars as part of a clause in her severance agreement.

“DeNesha didn’t want to come off the bench and didn’t want to be kept accountable, so it was a mutual agreement because I certainly wasn’t going to be changing the way we keep our culture,” Heal said at the time.

Neither Heals, nor Sydney, have given a reason for Shyla Heal’s departure or her father’s absence from the sidelines.

News Corp, last month, reported the club had launched the investigation, the nature of which has been shrouded in secrecy.

Shane Heal has been absent from the sidelines since January 15. Picture: Getty Images

The Fire snapped Perth’s seven-game winning streak, adding a sixth victory on the bounce with a stunning fightback from 22 points down, without captain Lauren Nicholson and star guard Steph Reid.

American sharpshooter Karlie Samuelson led the way with 26 points, including four makes from deep, and praised Shyla Heal’s “first day on the job”.

“Very first day, look at her stepping up,” Samuelson said on ESPN, post game.

“I’m happy to have her, I think she’s happy to be here, so I think it’s a good thing for us.”

Shyla Heal reunited with highly-rated coach Seebohm, who said he was pleased to have her back at the Fire.

“Really happy, she’s a great kid,” Seebohm said.

“She knows our team really well, knows me really well.

“Once we’ve got a bit of time to integrate her in and hopefully get Steph and Lauren back, we’ll be looking all right.

“For now, she’s going to come off the bench, she’s just joined us, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

HEAL QUITS FLAMES FOR FIRE IN BOMBSHELL MOVE

—Megan Hustwaite

Opals young gun Shyla Heal is set to sensationally suit up for Townsville on Wednesday night in Perth after dramatically departing the Sydney Flames.

The 21-year-old must play in Townsville’s seven remaining games to qualify at the 11th hour for finals with the fourth-placed Fire facing two crunch games against the Lynx in Perth this week which could decide a top-four spot.

It’s understood that the Flames and Shyla Heal have mutually agreed to part ways while the independent investigation into her father and Sydney coach Shane Heal continues.

Shyla Heal has dramatically departed the Sydney Flames. Picture: Evan Morgan

Under WNBL rules Basketball Australia is expected to approve Shyla’s clearance and register her new contract with Townsville in time for her to play against the Perth Lynx.

Heal flew west on Tuesday afternoon pending the completion of official paperwork.

In the second year of a three-year deal, Shyla and father Shane Heal were Sydney’s big name father-daughter coaching/playing combination until January 18 when the club announced via Twitter that Shane was unavailable to coach against the Southside Flyers and Shyla would not play due to personal reasons.

Shyla Heal posts on her Instagram account.

The pair have missed Sydney’s past three games with the Flames since launching an investigation into Shane Heal.

A Flames spokesman said late on Tuesday that the club were unable to comment on the status of Shyla Heal’s contract.

Heal helped Townsville to a Grand Final berth in 2020 and is set to reunite with two-time coach of the year Shannon Seebohm and Townsville captain and Opals teammate Lauren Nicholson.

She averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists across 13 games for Sydney this season. Her last game was on January 15 against Townsville where she scored 17 points.

HEAL BREAKS SILENCE ON FLAMES ABSENCE

—Michael Randall

Sydney WNBL coach Shane Heal has addressed his absence from the Flames’ absence for the first time.

The club has launched an investigation, the nature of which neither the Flames, nor Heal, have revealed.

The Boomers great, on this week’s edition of The Basketball Show, said he could not speak on why he has not coached the Flames in their last three games because “my hands are tied”.

“I’m sure, at some stage, that’ll come out but, right now, you know I can’t say anything,” Heal said.

Shane Heal has addressed his Flames’ absence for the first time. Picture: Getty Images

“I can’t say anything, my hands are tied.

“At some stage I’ll be able to talk.”

Heal’s daughter Shyla Heal, who was the Flames’ starting point guard, has also missed the past three games.

Shane Heal said the 21-year-old was “doing well and hopefully you’ll see her soon, too.”

Shane Heal was still listed as the team’s coach on the official FIBA WNBL live stats for Sunday’s nailbiting 82-78 loss to Townsville Fire but former Opal Shelley Gorman has coached the Flames on an interim basis in his absence.

HEALS ABSENT FOR THIRD STRAIGHT GAME

—Michael Randall

Shane and Shyla Heal were absent from the Sydney Flames for a third straight WNBL game.

The Heal father-daughter coach-player combination was a late omissions from the Flames’ January 18 clash with Southside and neither has appeared since.

Heal was still listed as the team’s coach on the official FIBA WNBL live stats for Sunday’s nailbiting 82-78 loss to Townsville Fire but former Opal Shelley Gorman has coached the Flames on an interim basis for the past three games.

Shane Heal has been missing from the sidelines since the Flames launched an investigation but neither club, nor coach, has commented on the nature of the probe and News Corp understands lawyers have been engaged.

Shelley Gorman has coached the Flames in their past three. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney stormed out of the blocks with a 26-13 first quarter, but fourth-placed Townsville, missing captain Lauren Nicholson and losing Opals-bound point guard Steph Reid early, whittled away to establish a double-digit lead of its own in the last.

But a late Sydney fightback attempt was aided by Fire import Tianna Hawkins, who was called for a foul, then committed an unsportsmanlike in an altercation with Keely Froling. Froling made three of the four free throws, before Tiana Mangakahia swished a mid-range jumpshot on the out-of-bounds play to make it five points in 10 seconds and cut the lead to five with just under six minutes to go.

The Flames got as close as two on a Froling baseline jumpshot with one-minute left and then forced a shot-clock violation on the Fire to give themselves a chance to tie it up or take the lead. But Froling’s rushed three drew the front of the iron and the Fire were good enough to win the free throw game in the last 20 seconds.

Froling was everywhere, potting a game-high 24 points and import Jocelyn Willoughby had 19, while inspirational guard Mangahakia — who has stepped up in Shyla Heal’s absence — had 16.

Tiana Mangakahia puts the clamps on the Fire’s Steph Reid. Picture: Getty Images

She and Froling were the instigators of the Flames new Pink Round initiative in support of breast cancer awareness.

The 28-year-old’s a story is one of both struggle and triumph after she was diagnosed, in 2019, with stage two breast cancer while at Syracuse University.

“The Flames’ Pink Round is so important to me, as creating awareness about breast cancer is something I strive to be a part of,” Mangakahia said.

“I was excited when (Flames boss) Victoria (Denholm) reached out to me (about the round) and I told her I would love that, and it would mean so much to me as a breast cancer survivor.

“With everything I have been through first hand, I want others to understand the importance of checking themselves and going in to get check-ups while helping create a space where others feel comfortable asking questions.

“Initiatives like this also help myself and others learn about the different foundations and services available for women and men who are diagnosed with breast cancer while providing us a way to give back and help those in need.”

The Flames’ home Quaycentre, on Friday, February 24, will turn pink against Adelaide, with fans encouraged to do the same and donate to the McGrath Foundation. Sponsors and the ownership group will also pledge donations for every three-pointer the team makes on the night.

Originally published as WNBL: Shyla Heal opens up after dramatic departure from Sydney Flames