The Chicago Sky ended up with no 2025 WNBA draft picks after losing key players Hailey Van Lith and Ajsa Sivka. The franchise has struggled to maintain talent since their 2021 championship win.
The Chicago Sky would rather soon forget their efforts during the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The Jeff Pagliocca-ran franchise has toiled mightily since capturing the 2021 WNBA title, seeing its best players leave its ranks via trade or free agency. The Sky have struggled to replace their departing talent, with its draft record leaving a lot to be desired.
Angel Reese was an unquestioned success, becoming one of the league's best players across her two seasons in Chicago colors. Pagliocca dealt her to the Dream for a relatively sparse package in the offseason.
Beyond Reese, though, Pagliocca's efforts have failed to meet the mark. The Sky's 2025 draft class might represent the low point for the organization, with all four of its selections -- Ajsa Sivka, Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld and Aicha Coulibaly -- failing to crack the roster one year later.
Q&A
Why does the Chicago Sky have zero draft picks for the 2025 WNBA season?
The Chicago Sky has zero draft picks for the 2025 WNBA season due to the departures of key players like Hailey Van Lith and Ajsa Sivka.
What happened to Hailey Van Lith and Ajsa Sivka from the Chicago Sky?
Hailey Van Lith and Ajsa Sivka left the Chicago Sky, contributing to the team's lack of draft picks for the upcoming season.
Who is Jeff Pagliocca in relation to the Chicago Sky?
Jeff Pagliocca is the head of the Chicago Sky franchise, overseeing the team's operations and decisions, including player trades and drafts.
What challenges has the Chicago Sky faced since their 2021 WNBA championship?
Since their 2021 WNBA championship, the Chicago Sky has faced challenges in retaining talent, leading to significant player departures and a poor draft record.
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Chicago entered the 2025 WNBA Draft with four draft picks. It could've had more; the Sky sent the rights to the No. 3 pick -- used to select Sonia Citron -- to the Mystics in exchange for Ariel Atkins.
Citron was an All-Star as a rookie, while Atkins was traded to the Sparks after one year in the Windy City.
As for Chicago's draft class, Pagliocca thought he fetched the organization a haul when he selected Ajsa Sivka (No. 10), Hailey Van Lith (No. 11), Maddy Westbeld (No. 16) and Aicha Coulibaly (No. 22). One year on, it's clear that his vision didn't come to fruition.
Sivka headlined Chicago's 2025 class, emerging as a sharp-shooting teenager with Beretta Familia Schio (Italy) and Tarbes Gepe Bigorre (France). The Slovenian wing figured to fit nicely next to Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso as a floor spacer.
Sivka stayed overseas for the 2025 season, signing with Joventut Badalona in Spain. The now 20-year-old is slated to take her talents to the college game in 2026 and beyond, signing her letter of intent to play at Kentucky. The Sky will retain her draft rights, meaning she could still sport their colors in the future. However, Sivka will first test her luck in the SEC, hoping to shine for Kenny Brooks' side.
Round 1, pick No. 11: Hailey Van Lith, TCU
A dazzling college point guard at her peak, Van Lith was a reach at No. 11. Undersized and unreliable on the defensive end, her game was pockmarked with flaws. She was never the steadiest shooter in college and failed to establish herself as an elite processor or playmaker. She showed promising signs during her lone season at TCU, but there were doubts about her long-term viability at point guard.
Still, the Sky were compelled by her skill set, selecting Van Lith No. 11 overall â seven spots higher than former South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao. Van Lith played sparingly during her first season in the league, averaging just 3.5 points and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes of action. Paopao, meanwhile, established herself as a key contributor to the Dream's playoff push in 2026, starting 15 games and shooting 39 percent from 3-point range.
One year after being selected, Van Lith was waived. According to ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Van Lith's release was based on the Sky's "style of play preference." She is reportedly in talks with other teams.
Round 2, pick No. 16: Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
A former five-star recruit, Westbeld showed out across her time in South Bend. However, there were signs that she could struggle at the WNBA level. She shot 31 percent from three in her final season with the Fighting Irish, hinting that her shot mechanics could be a bit more inconsistent than once considered.
That didn't stop Chicago from selecting Westbeld with the No. 16 pick. She actually showed flashes as an improved three-point shooter as a rookie, sinking 40 percent of her three-point attempts. Her game beyond that was limited, however; Westbeld shot just 36 percent form the field and 34 percent on two-point shot attempts. She was waived ahead of the 2026 season despite being protected, alongside Van Lith, in the 2026 expansion draft.
Rounding out the list of 2025 draft blunders for the Sky is Aicha Coulibaly. A lanky guard, Coulibaly showed flashes as a defensive specialist during her collegiate career. A torn ACL at the end of her senior season allowed for Chicago to use her as a draft-and-stash. Coulibaly returned to the floor ahead of the 2026 season, but was unable to lock down a roster spot. She was waived on May 4.
