WNBA draft: Hailey Van Lith picked No. 11 by Chicago Sky, reunites with former LSU teammate Angel Reese

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 16, 2025, 16:04 IST

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Hailey Van Lith was selected as the No. 11 overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft. After overcoming a tough season at LSU, she had a standout year at TCU. Van Lith will reunite with former LSU teammate Angel Reese, bringing her scoring and playmaking skills to help the Sky's rebuild.

WNBA draft: Hailey Van Lith picked No. 11 by Chicago Sky, reunites with former LSU teammate Angel Reese

TCU's Hailey Van Lith, right, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Hailey Van Lith's journey to the WNBA has been a rollercoaster, but on Monday, it reached a high point when she was selected by the Chicago Sky with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. This moment was uncertain just a year ago after a challenging season at LSU, but Van Lith's hard work and perseverance combined with stops in Paris and Fort Worth have propelled her to this point.
Reflecting on her struggles, Van Lith said, "The Lord put me in situations that I needed to go through to grow as a basketball player and a human being. I worked through it with my sports psychologist, and we understood this as something I could grow from and embrace."

A New Chapter with the Chicago Sky

Van Lith will join a Sky team aiming to accelerate its rebuild. The Sky added former LSU standout Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Slovenian forward Ajša Sivka in this year’s draft, alongside seasoned veterans Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot. Vandersloot's veteran presence will be invaluable for Van Lith, especially as she looks to refine her playmaking ability.

Excitingly, Van Lith will reunite with Reese, her former LSU teammate where the two played together for one season at LSU (2023-24). Though their season together in Baton Rouge ended on a sour note for Van Lith, they’ve maintained a strong friendship and mutual respect. Van Lith shared, “I’m excited to get to be around her again. She’s a dog, man. She turns up the intensity of everybody around her, and I’m excited to be in that environment with her again where she can pull more out of me than I think I have.”
Reese echoed those sentiments on social media, saying, “We ain’t do it right the first time. Let’s run it backkkkk.”

Van Lith’s Role in Chicago

Though questions linger about her transition to the pro level due to her size (5-foot-9) and defensive limitations, Van Lith has proven herself as a fierce competitor. She is determined to bring toughness and resilience to the Sky, emphasizing that she aims to contribute to the team’s culture.
"Whatever my role is, whatever my opportunities are, I just want to contribute to the culture of tough, selfless, hardworking players that I think they’re looking to join the program," Van Lith said. "It’s more of an attitude, a mindset, than anything, and I think I’m more than capable of doing that."

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