Shyla Heal reunites with former teammates in Geelong

• Geelong United secure Australian point guard Shyla Heal for 2025-26 WNBL season
• Heal reunites with Jazmin Shelley in the backcourt, making United an immediate force
• How to watch every 2025 NBL1 game live and free with Bounce Pass

Geelong United's sales pitch to star Australian women's basketballer Shyla Heal has inspired the Opals guard to knock back several offers to head back to Europe and return to the WNBL for the 2025-26 season.

"I had meetings with (head coach) Chris (Lucas) and the ownership and they really sold me on the club's vision," Heal said.

"Chris is a very experienced coach and I’m excited to play for him."

The 23-year-old, who has immediately put the NBL1 East Bankstown Bruins into playoff contention, was also lured by the opportunity to play alongside former teammates Elissa Brett, Gemma Potter, Jazmin Shelley and Taylor Mole.

"What also drew me to Geelong was the girls I will be playing with," Heal revealed.

"I went to the AIS with a few of the girls already on the team, Jaz, Gemma, Elissa 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."

Heal earned a WNBA training camp contract with Phoenix Mercury earlier this year but was waived in mid-May before the start of the 2025 season.

She returned to Australia and signed with the Bankstown Bruins with immediate impact. She is averaging 29 points, six rebounds, five assists. Heal is shooting a red hot 53% from the field and 42% from three.

Heal has played in the Turkish League, Poland, Israel and France and her outstanding last season in Turkey ensure there were more offers on the table for next season. But the opportunity to play in Geelong, where her father Shane played from 1989 to 1991 for the now defunct Supercats, and win a second WNBL title was too good to refuse.

"I'm really excited to be a part of the club," Shyla added.

"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."

Heal won a WNBL championship with the Townsville Fire in 2023

"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,” Lucas said.

“I just feel like she's gone to another level, and is still a very determined young athlete that wants to get better.

"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."