On the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, host Howard Megdal is joined by Jacy Sheldon of the Ohio State University to go deep on everything Buckeyes. Just one year ago, injuries and setbacks had Sheldon questioning her future in the sport; today, she’s front and center in the eyes of WNBA scouts and is aiming for a trip to the Final Four before her collegiate career wraps up.
Howard and Jacy begin their conversation by reflecting on the injuries Jacy has faced and how she’s managed them. The hardest part of being injured, Jacy reflects, was “not being able to play with the group we had last year,” which was a “really talented group” which she had to watch “from the sidelines.” But her sustained injuries taught Jacy how to listen to her body and embrace recovery. She admits was difficult – especially training herself not to overdo it – but she accredits the rehab she did to getting her back in the place she’s in today.
Howard and Jacy then moved onto discussing Ohio State’s successes this season, which are hard to dissect without acknowledging Jacy’s contributions. Howard mentions that Jacy is hitting “58% on her twos” and “consistently hitting threes,” and ponders if she’s “stronger and quicker” than she was before. Jacy, in response, comments that rehab has probably made her stronger, but also accredits her success to her strong mindset. She also acknowledges all the ways the game has changed in the past few years, including during her tenure with Ohio State, and remarks about the things she needs to do to stay prepared, like hitting the gym “at game speed.”
Howard and Jacy wrap up the show discussing Jacy’s decision to forgo the WNBA draft last year and return to the Buckeyes instead. While Jacy saw the temptations of the WNBA option, she ultimately was persuaded by the “amazing group” Ohio State had last year, that was mostly returning for another season. “I wanted to get healthy,” Jacy reflects, “and compete with those girls at that highest level one more year.”
Tune in to hear it all and make sure to subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about the WNBA, women’s college basketball, basketball history and much more!