“There are pluses and minuses to both, but I think for her, the opportunity to learn and to gain that experience and that knowledge from a Hall of Famer, it’s something that you can’t really put a price on, put into words,” Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh said on Hailey Van Lith playing behind Courtney Vandersloot. Drafted in the first round of the 2025 WNBA draft, HVL is a rising star in the Chicago Sky who majorly contributes behind veteran Vandersloot.

The Chicago Sky has been massively struggling this season. Whether it was their lopsided preseason matches or the crushing season opener blow at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the team has been facing several setbacks in the regular games. Ranked second last in the recent rankings so far, it is no wonder that Sky ranks first in the most number of turnovers. The team has committed nearly 57 turnovers so far, with an average of 19 per game.

Meanwhile, HC Marsh praised the recently inducted rookie for learning the ropes from veteran Vandersloot and said, “And so, to Hailey’s credit, she’s soaked in every amount of experience and opportunity, and knowledge from Courtney. And Courtney is being a willing participant in sharing that along with Hailey.” Boasting a relatively young roster and a new head coach in Marsh, seems like the team is already falling apart on the hardwood. But in the midst of all the chaos, Marsh has shown appreciation for the guard as well as for Courtney, who has been generously helping Van Lith throughout.

The HC’s statement indicates a strong locker room dynamic with solid communication between the players. Despite a good understanding between the players where does the Sky’s performance fell short? While combined efforts of Kamila Cardoso, Angel Reese, and Courtney Vandersloot is visible, the team is staggering behind. This means that they clearly need to overcome their drawbacks, especially turnovers, to claw their way back into the game. And as former Reese’s teammate joins her in the pros, let us understand if Hailey will step foot on the Arlington hardwood on Thursday.

Injury Report: Chicago Sky vs Dallas Wings

According to ESPN, Hailey Van Lith’s presence in the match against the Dallas Wings remains questionable. The official website updated the rookie’s playing status ahead of Thursday’s match and wrote, “Van Lith (ankle) has been listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against the Wings, Matt Cohen of Winsidr.com reports.”

HVL is the latest player on the Sky’s roster to remain absent from the showdown against Dallas Wings. While her status remains questionable, Hailey apparently suffered from an ankle injury during the match against the New York Liberty. The rising star appeared in two out of four regular matches so far and dished 4 points and 3 assists within an average of 10 minutes. And though she has a 0-for-3 score from beyond the arc, Hailey has shown a 33.3% shooting prowess from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line. Not bad for a rookie!

However, Chicago Sky’s proficient veteran, Moriah Jefferson, has been declared out by the ESPN. Her leg issues are suspected to be the major cause of her absence in the upcoming game. Jefferson has been recuperating from an arthroscopic surgery that was recently performed on her right ankle. The five-feet-six guard had been suffering from joint issues in the ankle since last season and this was the sole season she sat out the preseason games too.

Meanwhile, Dallas Wings guard Tyasha Harris suffered a knee injury during the match against the Sun. Her status is also questionable regarding the upcoming game against Sky. ESON official website updated her status ahead of the match, “Harris (knee) has been listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against the Sky, Matt Cohen of Winsidr.com reports.” Harris is a rising player in the Wings who has contributed significantly in the roster. She has an average of 4.6 points, 1.0 rebound, and 2.6 assists in the 2025 regular season. Moreover, Harris scored 1 rebound and 3 assists within 8 minutes of her play against Connecticut Sun.

Projected Starters: Chicago Sky vs Dallas Wings

Here’s a look at the projected starting five for both teams:

Chicago Sky 

• Kamilla Cardoso
• Kia Nurse
• Angel Reese
• Ariel Atkins
• Courtney Vandersloot

Dallas Wings

• Paige Bueckers
• Arike Ogunbowale
• NaLyssa Smith
• Dijonai Carrington
• Myisha Hines-Allen

Match Prediction: Chicago Sky vs Dallas Wings

Chicago Sky is still seeking their first win since the regular season began on May 17, 2025. After a crushing 93-58 defeat at the hands of Indiana Fever, Sky sank further in the next three games. And while they showed remarkable progress in each game, it seemed that was not enough to lift the team out of the losing streak.

Despite gaining 21 points from Ariel Atkins, Phoenix Mercury gained a 16-points lead and defeated Sky in a close 94-89 encounter. While Angel Reese emerged a standout player with the most number of rebounds in the regular season so far, can she and Sky team overcome turnover issue to emerge victorious? Now expected to land in Arlington, Texas, to lock horns with Dallas Wings on Thursday, it will be exciting to see whether Cardoso-Reese duo create enough opportunities on the court.

On the other hand, rookie Paige Bueckers stole the show as she propelled Dallas Wings into their first season victory against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. She averaged 21 points off 8-10 shooting along with 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block to lead the team to a 109-87 victory. Bueckers emerged as a standout distributor, with an average of 6.4 assists per game, picking at least 5 assists in every match, which is beneficial for the Wings as they prepare to go against the Sky.

Talking about Wings’ first victory run, Aziaha James went 2-3 from three while making all three free-throw attempts and scored scored 9 points in nine minutes as JJ Quinerly went 2-2 from the field and added five points off the bench against the Connecticut Sun. And though Chicago Sky and Wings share similar statistics so far, the recent victory has provided Wings with a much-needed edge. And as the two equally prominent teams prepare to face each other, can Dallas use the home advantage and secure another victory in their belt? That remains to be seen.