Nearly three years removed from her final game in a Buckeye uniform, Jacy Sheldon is still looking out for Ohio State women’s basketball. Now a WNBA veteran with the Chicago Sky, Sheldon recently opened up about the advice she’d give to the current generation of Buckeyes — a message rooted in the same work ethic and grind mentality that made her one of the greatest players in program history.
Here’s everything to know about Sheldon’s advice, her legendary Ohio State career, and where her basketball journey has taken her since leaving Columbus.
What Jacy Sheldon Said
Speaking after a morning shootaround in Dallas, where her Chicago Sky were preparing to face the Dallas Wings — the team that originally drafted her — Sheldon was asked directly what advice she’d offer current Ohio State players.
“I would say embrace it — it’s a grind, but honestly, it’s fun,” Sheldon said. “For me, the most enjoyable part was the work ethic behind it all. You want to get better every day, whether it’s on your own or in practice, and just embracing that.”
She continued with a message about perspective through adversity: “You go through hard times, you go through a lot of adversity, but that’s what makes everything fun. You’re playing with family, so I’d just say enjoy it and really stick to the grind the whole season.”
It’s a simple message, but one that carries weight coming from a player whose own Ohio State career was defined by exactly that kind of daily commitment to improvement.
A Career Built on the Same Grind She’s Preaching
Sheldon’s advice isn’t just talk — it’s a direct reflection of how she operated during her own five seasons in Columbus. Former Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff has repeatedly praised her relentless work ethic, once saying, “Her commitment to becoming the best player possible and probably more importantly the way she’s represented our program in this community is incredible. Just a really special kid. One of the best to ever play in this program.”
That reputation for outworking everyone around her became a defining trait of her Buckeye tenure. Even when McGuff would pull her from games to rest, Sheldon consistently pushed to get back onto the floor. During a stretch recovering from a foot injury, she reportedly pushed herself so hard through her prescribed rehab exercises that training staff struggled to slow her down.
By the Numbers: Jacy Sheldon’s Ohio State Legacy
Sheldon’s statistical résumé places her firmly among the greatest players in Ohio State women’s basketball history. Across her five seasons and 130 career games, she averaged 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, while shooting an efficient 49.1% from the field and 35.0% from three-point range.
Her accolades matched the production. Sheldon was a 2023-24 AP All-American, a two-time All-Big Ten Team selection, and earned two Big Ten All-Defense honors during her career. She remains Ohio State’s all-time leader in free-throw percentage at 85.0%, and she currently ranks sixth in program history in points (2,024), fourth in steals (250), and 10th in assists (399). She also helped lead Ohio State to its first Elite Eight appearance in 30 years and the program’s first outright Big Ten regular season title since 2009-10.
Reflecting on what it meant to wear the scarlet and gray as an Ohio native, Sheldon once said, “It’s a privilege to play here at Ohio State and to put that jersey on especially a kid being from Ohio. To play for McGuff has been awesome. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve played for.”
Where Jacy Sheldon Is Now
After wrapping up her decorated college career, Sheldon was selected fifth overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She spent her rookie season starting in 26 of 40 games, before returning to Columbus for the 2024-25 season to serve as Ohio State’s director of player development while continuing her professional career.
Since then, Sheldon’s WNBA journey has continued to evolve. She was acquired by the Connecticut Sun ahead of the 2025 season, appearing in 28 games with 17 starts, before being traded to the Washington Mystics in August 2025. She’s now a member of the Chicago Sky, and also competes with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. Off the court, Sheldon signed a signature shoe deal with HOLO Footwear in 2024 that included an equity stake in the company, and her first signature shoe, the JS:01, released to the public in 2025.
A Bond That Still Shapes Ohio State Basketball
Even away from Columbus, Sheldon’s influence on the current Ohio State program hasn’t faded. Her close friendship and mentorship with current Buckeye forward Cotie McMahon has become one of the more meaningful storylines connected to the program in recent seasons. McMahon has credited Sheldon directly with helping her learn to adjust her leadership style depending on which teammate she’s talking to. “I’ve played with older people, and the way they would talk to me would be harsh, and I would just take it,” McMahon said. “But [I’m] learning how to adjust and be patient and kind of change my words so that people can actually listen and really make a change, versus it coming off harsh and them kind of being closed off.”
Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff has echoed just how significant that connection remains for McMahon specifically. “Cotie really trusts Jacy, and I think that’s important,” McGuff said. “It’s extremely important for her to have somebody like Jacy, who says something to her, and she knows it’s coming from a place of Jacy trying to help Cotie get better.”
Why Sheldon’s Advice Matters for the Current Roster
Sheldon’s message — embrace the grind, trust the process, and lean on your teammates like family isn’t generic advice. It’s a distillation of exactly what made her one of the most decorated players in program history, delivered by someone who has since gone on to experience the professional level and can speak to what habits actually translate. For a current Ohio State roster looking to build on the program’s recent success, having a voice like Sheldon’s still connected to the culture both through her past mentorship of players like McMahon and her continued presence around the program adds real value that goes beyond a single quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What advice did Jacy Sheldon give to current Ohio State players? Sheldon advised current Buckeyes to embrace the daily grind of the season, focus on getting better every day, and lean on their teammates like family through the adversity every season brings.
What team does Jacy Sheldon play for now? As of her comments, Sheldon plays for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, after previous stints with the Dallas Wings, Connecticut Sun, and Washington Mystics.
What records does Jacy Sheldon hold at Ohio State? Sheldon is Ohio State’s all-time leader in free-throw percentage (85.0%) and ranks sixth in career points (2,024), fourth in steals (250), and 10th in assists (399).
Did Jacy Sheldon work for Ohio State after her college career? Yes. She served as Ohio State’s director of player development during the 2024-25 season while continuing her WNBA career.
Jacy Sheldon’s message to current Ohio State players is simple, but it’s backed by a career that fully embodied it. From her record-setting free-throw shooting to her relentless work ethic that coaches and teammates still talk about, Sheldon’s advice to “stick to the grind” isn’t a cliché it’s the actual blueprint that turned her into one of the greatest guards in Buckeye history, and one still very much invested in the program’s future success.
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