Daughter of NBL legend Shane, who also had stints in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, Heal put the basketball world on notice last year after a stellar WNBL season for Townsville Fire.
The point guard averaged 16.7 points per game along with a standout 30-point performance in the grand final loss to the Southside Flyers, after a 28-point outing the game before.
Her selection marks another significant boost for the Chicago Sky after securing the services of former number one pick and two-time league MVP Candace Parker this off-season via free agency.
The 19-year-old was overcome with emotion following her selection as her childhood dream was realised.
"It feels surreal, I have no words," Heal said.
"I've pictured this moment so many times since I was a little girl."
"I've been training so hard with my dad, and all my hard work has paid off.
"Especially at 19, I'll be one of the youngest in the league so I'm excited to get there and learn and keep getting better, but also contribute straight away."
Heal joins elite company alongside 2021 Hall of Fame candidate Lauren Jackson and three-time WNBA All-Star Liz Cambage as the third Australian in history to be drafted in the top 10, and she acknowledged the magnitude of such an achievement.
"They're two amazing players," Heal said.
"So to go down in history with them, it really does mean the world to me.
"This has been my goal for so long, I've been working towards it for so long and now that it's happened, I'm just so excited."
Father Shane was beaming with pride for Shyla, revealing the adversity his daughter battled through to get to this point.
"It's exciting, I can't wait for her to get over there," he said.
"She was told she was too small at a young age, and she's fought through it, she deserves it.
"She's so much better at a whole lot of things than I was to be honest and that's what you want as a dad and a coach.
"She'll forge her own way and make her own name and I'm really proud of that."
Heal will be hoping to impress Opals coach Sandy Brondello in her debut season as the Tokyo Olympics in July draw closer with the squad still undecided.
Brondello praised the skillset and temperament of Heal, backing her to make a big splash on the American hardwood.
"Shyla's a good kid, super skilled, good pick-and-roll player who can score off the dribble or shoot threes and passes well," Brondello told AAP.
"That'll make her a pretty good pro, but it's that fearlessness that stands out.
"If she has one quiet game she's not going to have two quiet games; there's no fear, no intimidation factor and she believes in herself, she won't back down."
The WNBA is set to tip-off on May 15th (AEST) with Heal's possible first outing coming on the 16th as the Sky travel to Washington to battle the Mystics.
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