In a stunning turn of events that underscores just how fast things move in the WNBA, Hailey Van Lith has already found her next home—just four hours after publicly addressing her departure from the Chicago Sky.

The Connecticut Sun has officially claimed the second-year guard off waivers, ending what was shaping up to be a highly scrutinized free-agency window. The move comes on the heels of a major roster shakeup in Chicago, where the Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream and waived Van Lith, effectively closing the chapter on two of their most recent first-round picks.

Van Lith’s release raised eyebrows across the league. Drafted 11th overall in 2025 out of LSU, she was expected to build on a promising rookie campaign and a much-hyped reunion with former Tigers teammate Reese. But according to ESPN, the Sky’s coaching staff made a "style-of-play preference" call, opting instead to sign veteran guard Natasha Cloud—a proven winner who fits their vision of a more experienced backcourt.

For Van Lith, the transition happened at lightning speed. While many assumed she’d land with either the Portland Fire or Toronto Tempo, Connecticut swooped in before the market could fully develop. And the Sun are getting a player with serious upside: despite battling an ankle injury in her rookie season (averaging 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over 29 games), Van Lith lit up the 2026 preseason with averages of 12.5 points and 4.5 assists while shooting an incredible 71.4% from the field.

But perhaps the most telling part of this story is how Van Lith handled her exit. In a heartfelt message to Chicago, she wrote: "To the city that drafted me and the fans who showed up every night 🤞 Chicago, you’ll always be where my WNBA story began."

Now, that story continues in Connecticut—and we can’t wait to see what she does next.