Hailey Van Lith joined the Chicago Sky as the 11th overall selection in the WNBA Draft on April 15, 2025. Her post-draft interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe quickly caught viewers’ attention, sparking discussions across social media platforms about her seemingly reserved demeanor.
The guard’s collegiate journey took her through several programs, beginning at Louisville where she established herself as a standout player over three seasons. Her path then led to LSU, where her performance statistics notably dipped to 11.6 points per game while shooting a career-low 37.8% from the field. This decline prompted her transfer to TCU, where she experienced a resurgence, averaging 17.9 points per game and leading the Horned Frogs to their first-ever Elite Eight appearance.
Social media reactions to Van Lith’s draft interview primarily focused on her reunion with former LSU teammate Angel Reese, who was already on the Chicago Sky roster.
Hailey Van Lith smiling through the pain of returning to toxic hell pic.twitter.com/70MrbeRiUh
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) April 15, 2025
Many viewers interpreted Van Lith’s facial expressions during the interview as forced or uncomfortable, particularly when asked about playing alongside Reese again.
Key Career Statistics:
- Louisville: Three seasons as a prominent scorer
- LSU: 11.6 PPG, 3.6 APG, 37.8% FG
- TCU: 17.9 PPG, led team to Elite Eight
The Chicago Sky utilized their back-to-back draft picks (10th and 11th) to strengthen their roster, with Van Lith representing their second selection of the night. Despite fan speculation about potential tension between Van Lith and Reese, the latter expressed enthusiasm about reuniting with her former collegiate teammate.
Van Lith’s collegiate career concluded with her TCU performance marking a significant improvement over her single season at LSU. The guard’s ability to bounce back after a challenging year demonstrates resilience that may serve her well as she transitions to professional basketball.
The draft night scenario highlights the complex dynamics that can exist in women’s basketball as players transition between collegiate programs and ultimately to the professional level. Van Lith now faces the challenge of establishing herself in the WNBA while navigating the spotlight that comes with being a high-profile draftee.W
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
