Even after incomes final season’s alternative to signal on with the Liberty by way of the playoffs, level guard Jaylyn Sherrod is aware of her spot within the WNBA is way from solidified.
There’s room for development in each side of her recreation, from making reads to bettering as a shooter. So this offseason, she made a pledge to maximise each alternative that got here her means.
“Greater than something coming off of final season, it was essential for me to get as a lot expertise playing-wise as doable,” Sherrod advised The Put up.
Sherrod spent a month enjoying in China, however is now getting ready for Athletes Limitless’s upcoming season.
In Sherrod’s eyes, enjoying a monthlong season wherein gamers are redrafted weekly at a centralized location — on this case Nashville, Tenn. — alongside a number of WNBA veterans, together with three-time champion Alysha Clark and WNBA journeywoman Sydney Colson — could also be the most effective factor for her.
“I’m at all times asking questions and [want] to encompass myself round gamers which might be the place I wish to be and attending to go towards after which prepare alongside them,” Sherrod stated. “Only a nice alternative.”
In a whole lot of methods, the previous years have ready Sherrod for Athletes Limitless.
After starring at Colorado and main the Buffaloes to a Candy 16 look in 2024, Sherrod didn’t hear her title referred to as on the WNBA draft and was invited to the Liberty’s coaching camp.
Common supervisor Jonathan Kolb and coach Sandy Brondello noticed the potential in Sherrod, however she was waived earlier than the season. Three months later, although, Sherrod was again in New York and signed a sequence of weeklong contracts earlier than incomes an opportunity to remain by way of the playoffs.
Sherrod operated how most rookies do. She performed in worry of creating a mistake, which, in some methods, hampered her.
“It may be very intimidating at first simply due to the requirements and the excellence that they play at,” Sherrod stated.
Sherrod went from watching Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones play on TV in highschool to sharing a locker room with them as an expert. When Sherrod returned to the Liberty in July, Sabrina Ionescu pulled her apart at a follow and helped ease a few of her nerves.
“You’re on the staff now,” Sherrod recalled Ionescu telling her. “You don’t need to method all the things as in case you’re making an attempt to show your self anymore. You’re right here. You’re with us. You’re a part of the staff.”
Being part of a championship run altered Sherrod’s mentality. She’s now extra motivated than ever to show she has endurance within the WNBA.
“From the place I began final season, to getting reduce, to getting re-signed, to having weekly contracts to ending out the remainder of the season, like, I at all times say you couldn’t write the script [any] higher than that,” Sherrod stated. “Simply with the ability to do this my first 12 months within the league, seeing what it takes to win a championship, how onerous it’s, seeing that so early and being within the locker room with so many nice gamers, it was a blessing.”
Sherrod signed a coaching camp contract with the Liberty earlier this month. There’s no assure that she’ll be with New York when the Liberty start their title protection Could 17 towards the Las Vegas Aces.
Not that Sherrod is specializing in that at this level.
Sherrod is locked in on Athletes Limitless and dedicated to creating as a degree guard.
“To be nice, you gotta go towards greatness,” she stated. “And so [Athletes Unlimited is] simply a great way to push myself, see the place I’m at and really simply have good competitors evening in and evening out.
“It’s [about] making an attempt to be higher. It’s all about being on the suitable trajectory. … I form of grew up with the mentality, like, in case you’re not getting higher, you’re getting worse. There’s no in between. So it’s nearly getting higher day-after-day and rising and the way can I maximize the chance in entrance of me.”