It was about 2:00 PM on a Wednesday, and Hailey Van Lith was sitting with her phone, trying to find the right words for a post she never knew she had to write so soon. Just a year ago, she was the No. 11 pick, a college phenom joining the young talent in Chicago. Now she was writing her goodbyes, since she was officially waived by the Sky just two days prior. She hit post on her Instagram story, thanking the city, the fans, and the teammates. Little did she know that just four hours after addressing her departure, the notifications of her phone would look a whole lot different.

While fans were busy sending “broken heart” emojis, it turns out that the Connecticut Sun were busy in hiring mode. So, just like that, in a move that has everyone excited, the Connecticut Sun officially claimed Van Lith off waivers, ending a brief but heavily discussed free-agency window. Now roster cuts are common this time of the year; however, given that Van Lith was already playing well, it left many baffled. Asking why?

Of course questions were raised, and head coach Tyler Marsh actually came out to talk openly about it. And by the sounds of it, it doesn’t seem like there was any drama involved.

“The worst part of this job and the business that we’re in is you have to have a tough conversation and make tough decisions,” Marsh said, via Moreau Sports. “For us, unfortunately, sometimes it comes down to a numbers game, and it’s not necessarily anything that Hailey did or didn’t do. She’s another one that works incredibly hard…and is incredibly tough as well.” And then when you look at what Chicago was doing overall, it does start to make more sense.

Before the 2026 regular season began, the Chicago Sky went on a roster overhaul. It started with trading Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream. Then they brought in veteran guard Natasha Cloud, and basically they went into a more experienced win-now setup.

In fact, ESPN did report the organization’s decision was tied to a “style-of-play preference” from the coaching staff. So, they signed veteran guard Natasha Cloud to a one-year contract because she “fits in with the other proven winners on the Sky’s roster.”

So suddenly Van Lith, who had actually been playing well, didn’t fit the picture anymore. While the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo were widely viewed as the landing spots for her after that but Connecticut moved quickly and secured the former All-American before the market could develop further. And well, it would be an understatement to say they are lucky.

They are getting a player who averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists across 29 games while battling an ankle injury in her rookie year and 12.5 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 71.4% from the field in her 2026 preseason games with the Sky.

Nevertheless, Van Lith didn’t do any drama and showed no bitterness as she parted ways. She had nothing but gratitude for her former team.

“To the city that drafted me and the fans who showed up every night 🤞, Chicago, you’ll always be where my WNBA story began,” Van Lith wrote on her . “Grateful to my teammates, the fans, and the entire organization for being the first chapter of my journey. The journey continues. Thank you, Chicago! 🩵💛”

Now, with the dust settling quickly and the regular season all set to tip off on May 8, let’s take a closer look at why the Connecticut Sun could be the right place for this young guard to reset and grow.

Does Hailey Van Lith fit in the Sun’s long term plan?

The Sun is in a clear transition phase where they are building their franchise on a younger core and reshaping their identity. With players such as Nell Angloma and Gianna Kneepkens, the franchise is confident of surpassing its previous records. So with no immediate pressure to force production, a player will get space to evaluate and develop.

From a system standpoint, head coach Rachid Meziane brings a style that leans into pace and movement rather than isolating one focal star, something a lot of teams have been doing lately. That approach suits Van Lith’s game profile. She operates best when she can read the floor quickly, move the ball decisively, and create offense in rhythm rather than isolation-heavy sets. The structure in Connecticut allows her to lean into those strengths without boxing her into a rigid role early on.

Secondly, opportunity also plays a major part in why this landing spot makes sense. Young and developing guards are still shaping the Sun’s backcourt as they compete for consistent minutes. That environment doesn’t guarantee Van Lith a role, but it does ensure she enters a rotation where spots are genuinely open, not already locked in.

However, let’s not forget the fact that Jen Rizzotti (Sun President) already coached Hailey Van Lith during her time with USA Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This had helped Lith in securing a bronze medal that year. That prior connection often matters more than it appears on paper, especially in early roster decisions.

Nothing about this guarantees immediate success, but that’s not really the point of the move. Connecticut gains depth, while Van Lith seizes the opportunity, so both sides step into a situation that can develop naturally rather than being forced.