How Shyla Heal became the face of a global campaign inspiring self-belief in young women

Rising Australian basketballer Shyla Heal has experienced her fair share of setbacks in recent times, but she has stood tall.

Battling glandular fever for months on end can defeat anyone, but not rising Australian basketballer Shyla Heal.

As draining and difficult as feeling flat and lifeless can be, Heal was driven to overcome the illness that often kept her bedridden.

You see, this wasn’t the guard’s first rodeo in resilience.

Heal is coming off the most challenging 16 months of her young basketball career.

It started in mid-2021 when she was brutally cut from her WNBA team, the Chicago Sky, after just four games.

The Sky had selected Heal with the eighth pick in the draft, but opted to waive her.

She received the shattering news while she was at the airport preparing for her first road trip with Chicago.

The emerging guard also missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympic squad while her glandular fever didn’t help her gain selection in the recent World Cup in Sydney.

Australian Opals basketball training on the Gold Coast at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Carrara. Player Shyla Heal. Picture: Jerad Williams

These unfortunate events took a toll, but they also had Heal conditioned to fight through the fever and find her feet again.

“Looking back, I’m so grateful that everything panned out the way it did,” said Heal, the daughter of Australian basketball legend Shane Heal.

“I’m so much stronger as a result and I’ve had to learn quickly what I need to get better at.

“There are going to be bumps in the road with health, injuries, and setbacks, but it’s about finding a way to get through it.

“I’m lucky that I have a good circle around me who support me and help me get through it.”

It’s not to say that Heal didn’t have her down days as she battled with glandular fever dating back to the start of the year.

She felt so fatigued that she would sleep for up to 12 hours a night and still need a nap the following day.

Heal even played in three World Cup warm-up games for the Opals against Japan in May with undiagnosed glandular fever.

Despite this, she averaged 9.3 points across the three-game series.

Once diagnosed, Heal participated and supported the Opals program as much as possible.

Due to this illness and the required recovery, she wasn‘t selected in the shortened team squad for New York, which was then again whittled down into the squad that played in the World Cup.

Passion first, then determination. Success will come next.

TCL Brand Ambassador, Shyla Heal, she shares Her story with TCL, as a platform to encourage women and girls to redefine their greatness.@shylaheal1 Thank you for inspiring all of us!#TCLforHer#InspireGreatnesspic.twitter.com/MXZhzxwBuj

— TCL Mobile (@TCLMobileGlobal) September 22, 2022

Heal was desperate to don the green and gold, but she knew her health would hold her back.

“Glandular fever was so hard, especially when all the Australian Opals World Cup camps were on,” the 21-year-old said.

“It was really upsetting because I really wanted to be a part of that.

“I’d get one minute into training, and I’d just have to stop. I then found out that I had the fever in a few of the practice games that I’d played.

“In hindsight I was struggling in those games because I was even puffing bringing the ball up the court.”

Thankfully, Heal is back to full health and focused on producing a strong WNBL season with the Sydney Flames.

She says a six-week pre-season has her primed to perform, starting with the Flames’ season-opening away clash against Bendigo Spirit on November 12.

Heal is also keen to have an influence off the court after partnering with FIBA sponsor TCL on its global #TCLFORHER campaign to inspire confidence and self-belief in young women across the world.

She didn’t play in the World Cup in Sydney, but she was hand-picked to appear in the campaign’s video.

Heal knows how to respond following a setback, so she feels honoured to share her story in a bid to help others.

“This program means a lot to me,” she said.

“I’m grateful that TCL has been by my side since the start of my career.

“They believe in me and one of their slogans is display greatness and that is something that I have a passion for, not only for myself, but motivating and inspiring the next generation.

“It’s something I love, so doing this video is important to me to explain to the kids that it is okay to have setbacks.

“Everyone goes through it and it’s how you answer those setbacks that only make you stronger.

“I think a lot of young kids need to hear that.”

Pictured at Auburn PCYC is Sydney Flames star player Shyla Heal during a training session. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Heal now has her sights set on representing the Opals in future tournaments while she has one eye on a return to the WNBA.

She felt disappointed to miss the Australian squad for a home World Cup in Sydney, but she attended the tournament and made the most of her courtside seat.

“Watching on I was taking notes in my head, especially watching USA players like Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray and all the best guards in the world,” she said.

“I was taking stuff from their game and adding in into mine.

“I really liked how Plum in particular never gave up. She was like a dog in defence being all over the ball and she also created for her teammates and scored.

“I was learning, so I can be out there at the next World Cup and kick some butt.”