Why Jaylyn Sherrod believes Athletes Unlimited will help her stick with Liberty

Even after earning last season’s opportunity to sign on with the Liberty through the playoffs, point guard Jaylyn Sherrod knows her spot in the WNBA is far from solidified.There’s room for growth in every aspect of her game, from making reads to improving as a shooter.So this offseason, she made a pledge to maximize every opportunity that came her way.“More than anything coming off of last season, it was important for me to get as much experience playing-wise as possible,” Sherrod told The Post.Sherrod spent a month playing in China, but is now preparing for Athletes Unlimited’s upcoming season.In Sherrod’s eyes, playing a monthlong season in which players are redrafted weekly at a centralized location — in this case Nashville, Tenn.

— alongside several WNBA veterans, including three-time champion Alysha Clark and WNBA journeywoman Sydney Colson — may be the best thing for her.“I’m always asking questions and [want] to surround myself around players that are where I want to be and getting to go against and then train alongside them,” Sherrod said.“Just a great opportunity.”In a lot of ways, the past years have prepared Sherrod for Athletes Unlimited.After starring at Colorado and leading the Buffaloes to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2024, Sherrod didn’t hear her name called at the WNBA draft and was invited to the Liberty’s training camp.General manager Jonathan Kolb and coach Sandy Brondello saw the potential in Sherrod, but she was waived before the season.

Three months later, though, Sherrod was back in New York and signed a series of weeklong contracts before earning a chance to stay through the playoffs.Sherrod operated how most rookies do.She played in fear of making a mistake, which, in some ways, hampered her.“It can be very intimidating at first just because of the standards and the excellence that they play at,” Sherrod said.Sherrod went from watching Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones play on TV in high school to sharing ...