Shyla Heal, the daughter of Australian basketball great Shane Heal, is headed to the WNBA after being taken by Chicago Sky with pick eight at the draft.
The 19-year-old guard's first-round selection follows her standout WNBL season with Townsville Fire.
The irrepressible Heal, who made her WNBL debut at just 14-years-old, averaged 16.7 points per game last season.
She also starred with 30 and 28-point hauls in back-to-back WNBL finals to help the Fire reach the grand final, when they were beaten by the Southside Flyers.
Her father Shane, a four-time Olympian, had two stints in the NBA, with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1996/97 and the San Antonio Spurs in 2003/04.
Heal was the sole Australian selection at the WNBA draft with compatriot Tiana Mangakahia overlooked.
Heal has just completed her first camp with Australia's senior team, the Opals, as she presses her claims for a spot in the squad for the Tokyo Olympics starting in late July.
Pre-draft, Opals coach Sandy Brondello - among the first Australians to play in the elite American league - said she had no doubt the 168cm-tall Heal had the qualities to flourish in the WNBA.
"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's 25th season starts on May 14.
