She’s battled Caitlin Clark under the brightest lights. But this time, the spotlight wasn’t about scoring.

Well, Jacy Sheldon gained massive attention after the Indiana Fever’s June 17 game, when she poked Caitlin Clark in the eye. Late in that same game, Sophie Cunningham grabbed Sheldon by the neck, escalating the moment.

Since then, Sheldon has often been discussed in a negative light. But not anymore!

This time, the attention is for something far more meaningful. That’s because she’s been honored with the 2026 Impact Award, which recognizes athletes who demonstrate exceptional civic leadership through their causes and community engagement.

“One of the most important and valuable things to me is making sure we treat people the way we want to be treated,” she shared.

The recognition isn’t surprising as Sheldon has been actively supporting Beyond Ability Matters, an organization that provides resources, experiences, and services to individuals with special needs.

She has long been committed to changing perceptions around people with special needs and Down syndrome. She focuses on highlighting the joy, love, and happiness individuals with disabilities bring to everyday life. But for her, this mission is deeply personal!

Her Inspiration Comes From her Sister. 

Her sister Emmy has Down syndrome and growing up with her Jacy always leaned towards people with special needs. As she herself puts it better, “My sister Emmy and my aunt Kristyn inspired me to choose my athlete cause, which is Beyond Ability Matters. My sister Emmy has Down syndrome.”

She added, “ Ever since she was born, I’ve wanted to be around and involved with individuals with special needs. Emmy has changed my perspective on life, and choosing Beyond Ability Matters was a no-brainer for me,” 

Through her work with the organization, Sheldon supports her mission. So yes,  the honor feels well deserved, especially considering the strong competition. Lexie Brown and Isabelle Harrison were also finalists for the award.

Also, it proves something important. While Jacy Sheldon may be intense and aggressive on the court, she is compassionate and thoughtful off it!

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu