ThomasCostello
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Both 2024 Ohio State women’s basketball WNBA draftees make final rosters
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images
Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor now set for first year of professional basketball.
On April 15, 2024, two members of Ohio State women’s basketball traveled to New York for a chance to make it into the WNBA. Guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor both heard their names called for the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever. However, in America’s top women’s professional basketball league, getting drafted doesn’t mean making a team most of the time. This year, both bucked that trend, making their respective rosters.
For Sheldon and the Wings, it was a more clear-cut situation. Following the lone Dallas exhibition game of the preseason, against the Fever on May 3, Sheldon walked away with a strong performance. The guard hit both of her attempted shots and brought the typical Sheldon intensity to the game. That means fast pace, defensive work, and running the game from the court.
Sheldon played from the bench that night, behind former Northwestern Wildcat Veronica Burton. On Saturday, May 11, the Wings cut Burton two days before the deadline for WNBA teams to submit their final rosters. With Burton waived, Sheldon now sits as the favorite to start at point guard.
Monday, Dallas Sheldon’s spot official, including the five-year Buckeye’s name on the 2024 final roster.
In Taylor’s case, the hill of making a team was more difficult to climb. Taylor joined a team full of guards. Former Buckeye Kelsey Mitchell led a guard group featuring fellow veteran Erica Wheeler, 2022 draftee Lexie Hull, and former Indiana Hoosier Grace Berger.
Playing against the Wings in that same exhibition game, Taylor didn’t score any points but had three rebounds in 10:58 on the court. Thursday, in Indiana’s final preseason game against the Atlanta Dream, Taylor made more of an impact.
In over 14 minutes, Taylor scored six points, had two blocks, and the second-best plus/minus on the team with a +11. Included in her scoring was a three and a heads-up rebound and floater at the halftime buzzer.
Taylor’s defensive prowess earned her a spot on the Fever’s final roster. Indiana brings 13 into the season, which is one more than the 12 allowed. Forward Damiris Dantas occupies one of those 13 spots, a Brazilian who arrived late at training camp after visa issues. Dantas has an injury that means her spot on the team is suspended until she recovers. At that time, Indiana will need to cut one player.
Elsewhere across Ohio State WNBA news, the Los Angeles Sparks waived sharpshooting guard Taylor Mikesell on May 6. The former Buckeye played under three minutes against the Seattle Storm in a May 4 preseason exhibition in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Mikesell’s only chance of making a team now is if one of the other 11 teams signs the Ohioan. Last year, Indiana cut Mikesell after drafting her in the second round, but the shooting guard landed with the Atlanta Dream. Mikesell came in off the bench until then injured Dream guard Aari McDonald returned.
The Indiana Fever play Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET, against the Connecticut Sun. That game, featuring the debut of Indiana rookie guard Caitlin Clark, airs live on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ and Disney+. Sheldon and the Wings start Wednesday, welcoming the Chicago Sky to Arlington, Texas for an 8 p.m. ET tip. That game is on WNBA League Pass.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images
Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor now set for first year of professional basketball.
On April 15, 2024, two members of Ohio State women’s basketball traveled to New York for a chance to make it into the WNBA. Guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor both heard their names called for the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever. However, in America’s top women’s professional basketball league, getting drafted doesn’t mean making a team most of the time. This year, both bucked that trend, making their respective rosters.
For Sheldon and the Wings, it was a more clear-cut situation. Following the lone Dallas exhibition game of the preseason, against the Fever on May 3, Sheldon walked away with a strong performance. The guard hit both of her attempted shots and brought the typical Sheldon intensity to the game. That means fast pace, defensive work, and running the game from the court.
Sheldon played from the bench that night, behind former Northwestern Wildcat Veronica Burton. On Saturday, May 11, the Wings cut Burton two days before the deadline for WNBA teams to submit their final rosters. With Burton waived, Sheldon now sits as the favorite to start at point guard.
Monday, Dallas Sheldon’s spot official, including the five-year Buckeye’s name on the 2024 final roster.
In Taylor’s case, the hill of making a team was more difficult to climb. Taylor joined a team full of guards. Former Buckeye Kelsey Mitchell led a guard group featuring fellow veteran Erica Wheeler, 2022 draftee Lexie Hull, and former Indiana Hoosier Grace Berger.
Playing against the Wings in that same exhibition game, Taylor didn’t score any points but had three rebounds in 10:58 on the court. Thursday, in Indiana’s final preseason game against the Atlanta Dream, Taylor made more of an impact.
In over 14 minutes, Taylor scored six points, had two blocks, and the second-best plus/minus on the team with a +11. Included in her scoring was a three and a heads-up rebound and floater at the halftime buzzer.
Taylor’s defensive prowess earned her a spot on the Fever’s final roster. Indiana brings 13 into the season, which is one more than the 12 allowed. Forward Damiris Dantas occupies one of those 13 spots, a Brazilian who arrived late at training camp after visa issues. Dantas has an injury that means her spot on the team is suspended until she recovers. At that time, Indiana will need to cut one player.
Elsewhere across Ohio State WNBA news, the Los Angeles Sparks waived sharpshooting guard Taylor Mikesell on May 6. The former Buckeye played under three minutes against the Seattle Storm in a May 4 preseason exhibition in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Mikesell’s only chance of making a team now is if one of the other 11 teams signs the Ohioan. Last year, Indiana cut Mikesell after drafting her in the second round, but the shooting guard landed with the Atlanta Dream. Mikesell came in off the bench until then injured Dream guard Aari McDonald returned.
The Indiana Fever play Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET, against the Connecticut Sun. That game, featuring the debut of Indiana rookie guard Caitlin Clark, airs live on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ and Disney+. Sheldon and the Wings start Wednesday, welcoming the Chicago Sky to Arlington, Texas for an 8 p.m. ET tip. That game is on WNBA League Pass.
Continue reading...