Why Chicago Sky are parting ways with Hailey Van Lith despite 1st-round pick status

Why Chicago Sky are parting ways with Hailey Van Lith despite 1st-round pick status originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Sky drafted Hailey Van Lith in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

She didn't even make it to a second season in the Windy City, though.

On Monday, the Sky announced that they are cutting ties with HVL, sending her onto waivers and then potentially free agency.

They bid her farewell in a social media post:

Fans were quickly questioning the move, particularly given the fact that the Sky had recently protected Van Lith during the expansion draft.

Why did the Sky get rid of Hailey Van Lith?

The reality is that Van Lith's game simply wasn't set up for her to contribute in the modern WNBA.

Listed at 5-foot-9 and potentially shorter, the lefty needed to display high-end quickness and shooting ability to fit in to a league that has gotten longer, taller and more athletic through the years.

But as a rookie, she shot just 16.1% from 3-point range, and she struggled to create open looks for herself at the same level as she did in college.

Van Lith also averaged just 1.6 assists compared to 1.2 turnovers per game as a rookie.

Her pedigree is such that she'll likely get another chance in the WNBA before having to explore other basketball avenues, but it won't be easy for her to make it. There still aren't a ton of teams in the league, which limits opportunities for young players to break through, and that could hurt HVL's long-term chances.