You could call her WNBA debut a homecoming of sorts. But Baton Rouge isn’t home for Hailey Van Lith. During her single season at LSU, she clashed with expectations, endured positional shifts, and took more hits off the court than on. However, it might have just been the stop she needed– it helped her emerge with the clarity and poise of a pro in the making. “You have to just figure out how to make things work when it’s not what you expected it to be,” she says. And that’s the edge the Chicago Sky saw when they made her the No. 11 overall pick. Just ask head coach Tyler Marsh.

For the Sky, she’s not just a shot-maker. Not just a combo guard. But a player who can adjust, adapt, and attack. And in her preseason debut against Brazil, she proved exactly that. “She showed no fear tonight… You saw her on the ball a lot more. She’s creating for others. That’s what we thought we were getting when we drafted her,” said Marsh.

It all kicked off after Hailey Van Lith delivered exactly what head coach Tyler Marsh—and the 6,000 fans inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center—were hoping to see. Coming off the bench, Van Lith put up a solid all-around performance with seven points, four assists, three rebounds, and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.

But, what made her showing even more impressive was that she did it all in just over 13 minutes of action. She checked in during the third quarter and immediately brought a surge of energy to the floor. Her aggressive drives to the basket lit up the arena.

After the game, Coach Marsh emphasised the team’s mindset, saying, “We just don’t want to be one-dimensional.” Well, that’s exactly what Van Lith delivered: versatility. She pushed the tempo in transition, made a pinpoint assist to a teammate, and showed flashes of her high-level court vision.

Her ability to read the floor and create plays was clear, and she kept the pressure on by attacking the rim, drawing fouls, and converting from the line with calm consistency. In the fourth quarter, Van Lith logged even more valuable minutes. Although she didn’t add to her seven-point tally, she continued to make an impact in other ways—pulling down rebounds, dishing out assists, and picking up steals, all thanks to her relentless hustle and defensive energy.

But it wasn’t just about what she brought on offence. Even defensively, Van Lith brought grit. She used her physicality to stay locked in on her matchups, showing that she could handle the intensity on both ends of the floor.

All in all, it was a well-rounded showing from the rookie—and a glimpse into why she could be a key piece in the Sky’s system moving forward. So, was it enough to check all the boxes for what the Sky are looking for this season, as Coach Marsh hinted? From the looks of it, it’s a strong yes.

Hailey Van Lith is a missing spark in the Chicago Sky’s rebuild!

For the Chicago Sky, the 2024 WNBA season was anything but easy. Despite having standout names like Chennedy Carter, Angel Reese, and Kamilla Cardoso on the roster, the team wrapped up the season with a disappointing 13-27 record—missing the playoffs entirely. So naturally, after a season like that, something had to change.

And change did come, starting at the top.

The first major move? Appointing Tyler Marsh as the new head coach, following the dismissal of Teresa Weatherspoon nearly a year after she was brought on. It was a bold step, but one that aimed to inject fresh leadership and a new mindset into the team. And truth be told, it’s already starting to show results.

From the moment he stepped in, Marsh began shaping the future. One of his first priorities was overhauling the roster, and he wasted no time doing just that. Big names came in—Courtney Vandersloot, Kia Nurse, and Ariel Atkins—bringing the kind of veteran presence and stability the Sky desperately needed.

Then came the WNBA Draft, where Marsh and General Manager Jeff Pagliocca looked to fill in the remaining gaps. Pagliocca was clear about what they were hunting for, saying, “The top priority is going to be shooting… If we can find a point guard that’s over 6 feet tall, that would be great.”

And that’s when Hailey Van Lith entered the picture.

Drafted 11th overall, Van Lith—a dynamic 5’9″ guard from TCU—brought her scoring skills and playmaking chops to the table. Averaging 15.2 points per game, she was already known for her offensive instincts. And with her previous chemistry with Angel Reese from their LSU days, she was seen as an ideal fit for this rebuilding squad.

Coach Marsh has made it clear: he’s building a space where Van Lith can play confidently and authentically. And in her first outing, that vibe showed. While her overall impact on the scoreboard may not have been huge, she made the most of the minutes she got. Considering how little time she’s had to settle in, it was a solid start.

Still, one game doesn’t tell the full story. Now all eyes are on the Sky’s upcoming preseason matchup which is set for Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when they take on the Minnesota Lynx at Wintrust Arena. What do you think? Will Van Lith be able to keep up with the expectations?