The Chicago Sky have made a tough roster decision, waiving 2025 first-round draft pick Hailey Van Lith, the team announced Monday. The move comes as the Sky continue to reshape their lineup after a challenging season.
Van Lith, selected 11th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, brought a decorated college career from Louisville, LSU, and TCU to the professional stage. However, her rookie season saw limited impact, as she averaged 3.5 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 rebounds over 29 games—all coming off the bench. The 24-year-old guard flashed potential in a career-high 16-point performance against the Connecticut Sun, but she played fewer than 20 minutes in 22 of her appearances.
"Thank you, Hailey. Wishing you nothing but the best ahead," the Sky said in a statement, acknowledging her contributions.
Van Lith showed promise in the 2026 preseason, scoring 20 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting night in the opener against the Phoenix Mercury. She followed that with five points in the finale versus the Atlanta Dream, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot on the final roster.
The Sky, who tied the Dallas Wings for the league's worst record (10-34) last season, have been busy trimming their squad. They also waived Latasha Lattimore and Tonie Morgan on Sunday—both 2026 draft picks—along with Jordan Hobbs, Megan Nestor, and Sidney Cooks earlier in the week. On a brighter note, the team exercised fourth-year options on promising young players Kamila Cardoso, Rickea Jackson, and Jacy Sheldon.
With the regular season tipping off Saturday at 9 p.m. EDT against the Portland Fire, the Sky are clearly prioritizing a fresh start. For fans, this shake-up signals a team hungry to climb out of the league's basement—and a reminder that even top draft picks face a steep learning curve in the WNBA.