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Jaylyn Sherrod's Journey From Undrafted Rookie To WNBA Champion

By Brenden Potts, 02/03/25, 7:00AM CST

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An overlooked part of the New York Liberty’s title run last season was the story of rookie point guard Jaylyn Sherrod. After going undrafted in the 2024 WNBA draft, she joined the Liberty multiple times throughout the season. Through perseverance and hard work, Sherrod received the ultimate reward with a WNBA championship.

After completing her final season at the University of Colorado, Sherrod entered her name in the draft, hoping to hear her name called. Although she never received a call from a team during the draft, she did receive one from her former college coach, JR Payne, who reminded her that she has always been overlooked.

“I said (to Sherrod) ‘Your entire life you’ve been overlooked, under-recruited, people told you you’re too small and not good enough, and every single turn of your life you proved everybody wrong,’” Payne said. “And I said ‘This may not feel good, but this is right where you want to be because this is the space you thrive in.’”  

Shortly after the draft, she signed a training camp deal with the Liberty. After celebrating with her loved ones, she quickly traveled to New York. Over the next two weeks, Sherrod asked as many questions as possible. 

“I talked to all of (my new teammates) about something different. I asked questions trying to get an understanding of the system because the W happens so quickly and you have to stay on top of everything,” Sherrod said. “We’re going from college to a whole other environment in a matter of a month so you have to refresh your mind and as a point guard that’s difficult because you’re responsible for so many things.”

After training camp, Sherrod was the last cut from the final roster before the regular season. Even though she wasn’t on a team, she was still confident she could succeed at the next level. As she became more aware of her surroundings, she was able to adjust to them which is why her confidence comes so naturally.

“Once I see my surroundings and see what I’m getting into, I’m able to adjust,” Sherrod said. “When I got to training camp and competed, the understanding of ‘I can succeed at this level’ came naturally.”

During the season, Sherrod waited for her shot to play. While working to improve her game, she made a living off of her college savings and past N.I.L. (Name, Image, & Likeness) earnings. Sherrod felt like an underdog waiting for her opportunity, but it was not an unfamiliar feeling for her.

“I feel like all my life I’ve been an underdog and had to work my way through things and having to take extra steps to get to my end goal,” Sherrod said. “My end goal has always been so rewarding and such a blessing, so if that’s the path for me I’ll take it anytime.”

Coach Payne spoke about Sherrod’s underdog mentality and highlighted her ability to overcome any obstacle thrown at her.

“(Sherrod)’s one that every situation life throws at her, she finds a way to learn and grow from it,” Payne said. “No matter what she does for the rest of her life, she will find a way to be successful.”

Sherrod earned a short-term spot with New York in July 2024, signing a seven-day contract on July 6th. She wasn’t re-signed to the team again until the end of the season. On August 12th she signed another seven-day contract, and her production over the remaining 10 regular season games earned her a spot on the roster for the postseason. Sherrod rarely saw the floor in the playoffs, only playing three games during their run. Her patience finally paid off when the Liberty won the championship.

When reflecting on her journey to winning a championship, Sherrod felt thankful that she was in that position.

“I can go through year after year and I achieved a lot throughout my life, but I had never gotten over that hump,” Sherrod said. “To get over (the hump) at the highest level meant a lot and I was grateful for it because it could’ve gone a lot differently.”

As Coach Payne watched Sherrod win a championship, she was brought to tears knowing her perseverance paid off in the end.

“When I saw (the Liberty) win, (Sherrod) facetimed me, and I was crying because (I felt) beyond proud of her perseverance and resilience.”

Sherrod had a unique first year in the WNBA, and she learned to be where her feet are, which is also what she would tell her younger self if she could.

“Even in doing all the right things, life still doesn’t always go the way we want to. So (I’ve learned to) just be where my feet are and accept things for what it is,” Sherrod said. “I was so stressed about my future and making sure I was successful that I missed out on a lot of being young.”

With much to improve before her second season, Sherrod joined Athletes Unlimited, a pro basketball league full of current and former WNBA players. As she prepares for the rest of her pro career, Sherrod has already shown she can overcome any obstacle thrown at her.

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