Hailey Van Lith is another rookie to watch closely this WNBA season. “I know there’s probably a lot of pressure on her from the outside,” her teammate Angel Reese has said, acknowledging the spotlight Van Lith is under. And rightly so—after the breakout success of the 2024 rookie class, the bar has been set high, and fans are expecting even more from the 2025 group.

Van Lith, known for her fiery competitiveness and leadership in college, had a somewhat underwhelming performance in the Sky’s preseason game against the Lynx. That showing has already sparked some early media criticism, with questions emerging about how quickly she can adjust to the pace and physicality of the WNBA.

Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune wrote, “This was the first ‘welcome to the league’ moment for the rookie guard, who played 17 minutes and featured in what appears to be the main second unit.” Well, the moment she mentioned is a canon event for every rookie entering the big league. Everyone knows that it is going to be more physical and fast-paced, but watching it is one thing and playing against it is another.

You also have to keep up with the elite teammates you have. It seemed she played better against some of the Lynx’s bench players later on in the final five minutes, getting a 3-pointer with two assists and a steal to eventually guide them to a win. According to Poe, “Van Lith still has work to do to compete against top-echelon guards, but she has a significant competitive advantage against other players with similar experience.”

It’s not something the Sky management would have expected; she will take time to adapt. The question remains, how much time will she take? Since she is a long-term prospect for the Sky, we can expect her to get a long rope and even opportunities in cases where you will feel she doesn’t deserve it. Her talent is undeniable.

In her final season at TCU, she put up impressive numbers across 38 games, averaging 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Her standout performances led TCU to its first-ever Big 12 regular season title. She made history by becoming the first player to win the Big 12 Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

“It’s tough,” coach Tyler Marsh said. “It’s a first real look at W action, and those are certified WNBA guards. That’s the kind of pressure that she’s going to feel night in and night out. So it’s good to get her used to that tonight, and we’ll make our adjustments. There’s nothing like true hands-on experience, and I’m sure she’ll learn from the minutes that she got today.”

The Sky will stick to their guns with regard to Van Lith, but it remains to be seen how many minutes she gets during the season. She will have another chance to show her mettle when Chicago plays the Lynx on Saturday in their last preseason game. It will also be the last opportunity for Marsh to get the Sky house in order before they face the stern test of the Indiana Fever in their opening game on May 17.