Former Chicago Bull Brad Sellers eyeing full-circle moment for youngest daughter Shyanne, a top WNBA prospect

Most draft prospects arent too picky about their potential destination.

But for Maryland senior Shyanne Sellers, its a slightly different story.

Chicago means something different to the Sellers family.

And Shyannes father, Brad, cant lie its hard not to dream about the prospect of hearing his daughters name called to the city almost four decades after the Bulls selected him.

Look, the trip back to Chicago hasnt gotten past us, Sellers told the Tribune with a grin.

Its exciting to even think about.

Theres a high likelihood Sellers wont be available by the time the Sky are on the clock Monday night with the No.

10 pick in the WNBA draft.

Although initial mock drafts often had Sellers being selected toward the end of the first round, her stock skyrocketed after stars such as Olivia Miles opted to return for a final year of eligibility.

Sellers, a 6-foot-2-inch guard, averaged 14.4 points and 4.1 assists and shot a career-high 40.8% from 3-point range as a senior.

If she falls far enough or if general manager Jeff Pagliocca is willing to make one more draft maneuver Sellers fits the profile of the lengthy shooter the Sky have coveted in this draft.

Most mock drafts now place Sellers as the No.

4 or No.

5 pick, which would send her to the Washington Mystics or expansion Golden State Valkyries .

Still, that hasnt kept the Sellerses from making their pitch.

They feel Chicago would be a perfect fit for Shyanne her older sister Syarra is even studying law at DePaul, regularly teasing Shyanne about the prospect of living in the same city again.

And for the Sellers family, its hard not to hope for a return home.

It really brings you full circle, Brad Sellers said.

She knows what the city of Chicago means to our family and what it has done for us.

To see her come back, it would be a joy for me.

The Bulls drafted Sellers with the ninth pick in the 1986 NBA draft as they began building a roster around Michael Jordan.

Sellers didnt stay in Chicago long enough to reap the benefits of the 90s Bulls.

He was traded to the Seattle Supersonics just three years later and remained in the NBA until 1993, when he continued his playing career overseas.

But even after playing for four other NBA teams, the Bulls always held the most meaning for Sellers.

He praised the Reinsdorf family for offering support throughout his post-basketball career in media and politics.

He now is the mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Bulls forward Brad Sellers drives underneath the basket against the Bucks Paul Pressey on Dec.

9, 1988, at Chicago Stadium.

(Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune) And decades later, Sellers said he keeps close ties with former Bulls teammates and colleagues.

I love Chicago and I love the Bulls, Sellers, 62, said.

Always have and always will.

Thats family.

I can pick up the phone and call anybody over there.

They gave me a start in life that many dont get a chance at.

Ive always been appreciative of that.

Shyanne always followed in the footsteps of her older sisters Sydney, Syarra and Shayla.

The family jokes that she learned to dribble the same week she learned to walk.

So it wasnt a surprise when her mother, Kym, told a little white lie to sign Shyanne up for a 5-year-old league at age 4.

And it also wasnt a surprise when Sellers quickly began to impress on the court.

I saw some things and I was like, Maybe my eyes are fooling me.

Sellers said.

I kept saying, Did she just do what I think she did? She just has a knack for the game.

She has loved it from the beginning.

Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers shoots a free throw during a game against Norfolk State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 22, 2025, in College Park, Md.

(Terrance Williams/AP) Even with a former pro in the family, Shyanne and her sisters always have credited their mother with sparking their love of basketball.

Kym was the one sneaking them onto rec teams and encouraging them to join AAU programs.

Shyannes mother couldnt get on the court with her daughters.

Although she played in high school, Kym has used a wheelchair for as long as her youngest daughter can remember following a multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

But that didnt keep her from pushing her children to compete at the highest level of the sport.

As Shyanne rose to elite competitive, however, she relied more heavily on her father.

Sellers now jokingly refers to himself as an unpaid consultant for Shyanne, who aims to be the first professional basketball player in the family since her father.

The retired forward said its not hard to motivate his gym rat daughter.

I try to give her space to grow, Sellers said.

If she comes to me and says, Dad, tell me what you think, then Ill give it to her.

Maryland coach Brenda Frese, left, presents guard Shyanne Sellers with a commemorative basketball for Sellers 1,500 career points before the game against Nebraska on Feb.

13, 2025, in College Park, Md.

(Hannah Foslien/For The Washington Post) Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers, right, shoots over South Carolinas Bree Hall during the second half of the Sweet Sixteen game on March 28, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala.

(Sarah Stier/Getty Images) At halftime of Marylands Sweet 16 matchup against defending champion South Carolina on March 28 in Birmingham, Ala., Sellers could barely stand still.

At 7-foot, he towered over neighboring fans in the Maryland friends and family section as he waited with his hands folded.

The Terrapins had a two-point advantage over the No.

1 seed.

Shyanne was struggling with her shot, but she had made two crucial baskets to give Maryland a slight lead at the break.

Sellers peered toward the tunnel where he knew Shyanne would soon emerge, eager to give her a pep talk: This is big time.

We got a chance.

Were not even supposed to be here.

Maryland ultimately lost 71-67 to the Gamecocks, who advanced the national championship game Sunday.

But the loss capped another impressive season for the program, which has continued to elevate in the Big 10 under coach Brenda Frese.

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And NIL money makes that a good thing.

Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles to enter the transfer portal instead of the WNBA draft Aneesah Morrows toughness unmatched in LSUs Elite Eight exit: Nobody in the country did what I did every night Shyanne was a key part of the Terrapins growth.

Over four years, she expanded her game to become a versatile shooting guard who can score at all three levels.

This season, Sellers showcased an ability to become a true playmaker at the next level, creating for her teammates and carving out space for her shot with nifty handling through the paint.

Having a kid in your program for four years isnt the norm anymore, and Shy has been someone who has been incredibly loyal when you talk about her trust and her love for our program, Frese said after Marylands loss.

She is a competitor.

She is a person that weve been able to challenge throughout the course of her career and she has risen to the occasion every single time.

Just a special kid from a special family.

The womens basketball calendar offers little time for players to catch their breath.

Barely two weeks separate Shyannes final NCAA game and the WNBA draft.

But Sellers hopes the tournament made one final case for how his daughter can succeed in the WNBA not just with her on-ball skills or shooting but the intangible effect of her leadership and adaptability.

Shes figured out what each moment requires, Sellers said.

And she fills that void to say, Ill be who we need.

For those that are in the game, thats never undervalued.

It is a piece that makes a team.

Players like that, they dont come around very often..

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