Chicago Sky waive Hailey Van Lith after one season as roster overhaul continues with major changes

The Chicago Sky have moved on from former first round pick Hailey Van Lith, waiving her just one year after selecting her in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The decision comes after a series of changes, including the trade of Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream, showing a clear shift in the team’s direction.

Even though Van Lith was the 11th overall pick last season, she had a quiet rookie year playing for the Chicago Sky. She played around 29 games off the bench without being in the starting five, she averaged 3.5 points, 1.6 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. She had a hard time shooting from three, which made it difficult for her to secure a consistent role in the lineup.

However, she did show signs of improvement in the preseason. In two games, she averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 71.4 percent from the field. One of her best performances came against the Phoenix Mercury, where she scored 20 points and had a perfect 8 for 8 shooting performance.

Before getting into the league, Van Lith built a strong college career. In her last year at college she led the TCU Horned Frogs to a Big 12 championship and an Elite Eight appearance. Before transferring to TCU for her final year of eligibility, She also played at Louisville Cardinals and LSU Tigers, making deep tournament runs, including a Final Four and another Elite Eight.

The Chicago Sky, meanwhile are continuing to reshape their roster this season by making major changes and also waiving rookies Latasha Lattimore and Tonie Morgan.