Jaz Shelley announces return for fifth season at Nebraska

Jaz Shelley is back for one more year.

The point guard for Nebraska women’s basketball announced Friday that she’d return for a fifth and final season at NU. She, like close Isabelle Bourne, had been mulling over whether to stay with the Huskers or go back to her native Australia.

Bourne chose Australia. Shelley chose Nebraska.

“Australia means so much to me,” Shelley said in a video released by Nebraska women’s basketball. “But for one more year, Lincoln is my home.”

In a separate post on social media, Shelley said she has been “gifted with the most amazing teammates” who are “even better people.”

“I believe this team is capable of so much more and I am excited to get to work,” Shelley wrote.

She averaged 14.5 points, 6.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds in receiving first-team All-Big Ten honors last season. The Huskers finished 18-15, advancing to the third round of the WNIT.

Her return amounts to an immediate win for coach Amy Williams – who gets back a top-shelf point guard for 2023-2024 – and a potential recruiting assist, as any transfer shooting guards considering Nebraska know who will be passing them the ball.

Shelley has become a volume 3-point shooter at Nebraska, too, making five or more 3s six times last season. She made seven in a win over Mississippi State and six in an upset victory over Maryland.

As the season came to a close, Shelley said in interviews she was undecided about her future. Professional basketball could be lucrative for her in Australia. Even on Senior Day, she didn’t know what she’d do.

Now she does. One more year with the Huskers.