Chicago Sky rookie Hailey Van Lith struggled in the team’s 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. The first-year guard went scoreless, missing all three shots in limited minutes. While teammate Angel Reese posted another double-double, fans are questioning Van Lith’s future in the league.
The criticism feels familiar after her draft day comments about “cutting” Caitlin Clark during a media game. Now, just months into her pro career, that pressure is building again.
Why Fans Are Losing Faith in Hailey Van Lith’s WNBA Future?
Chicago is struggling in the 2025 season, and its rookies are feeling the heat. Van Lith came off the bench and failed to score a single point while providing little help on either end. Reese, meanwhile, had 16 points and 17 rebounds in the game, continuing her strong rookie campaign. For Van Lith, it was another quiet night that fans noticed.
After the game, fans on X shared strong opinions. Some are already losing faith in Van Lith’s ability to succeed at the WNBA level. Others think the problem runs deeper, pointing to the team’s coaching and development system.
One fan wrote, “She’s not league ready man. Neither is Maddy. Team wasted their draft picks this season 😭”
She’s not league ready man. Neither is Maddy.
Team wasted their draft picks this season 😭
— Kambui Bomani (@BomaniKambui) July 7, 2025
Another said, “I’ve been saying this. The Sky wasted all their draft picks in this last class. ALL OF THEM!!!”
I’ve been saying this. The Sky wasted all their draft picks in this last class. ALL OF THEM!!!
— BigDadd33 (@CJakaBig1) July 7, 2025
Others were more hopeful, like one who commented, “Yeah….she def. needs more seasoning.”
Yeah….she def. needs more seasoning.
— Keith Murphy (@murphdogg29) July 7, 2025
One fan still believes in her potential: “It’s her first year!! They need a better coach . Can’t get developed under him.”
It’s her first year!! They need a better coach . Can’t get developed under him
— Hmmmm_ (@JezebelsForHire) July 7, 2025
The opinions are mixed, but most agree that Van Lith needs time or maybe a better system to develop.
How Do Van Lith’s Numbers Compare to Other Sky Players?
Van Lith has averaged 4.3 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 rebounds in 15 games for Chicago in her career. She shot 37.8% from the field and 33.9% from three-point range during her time at LSU in the 2023-24 season.
While Van Lith struggled, Reese continued her strong campaign with another double-double. Chicago finished 13-27 in the 2024 season and currently sits near the bottom of the standings again.
For the Sky to win games and improve their record, they need more production from the backcourt. That includes Van Lith stepping up when her number is called. The team drafted her 11th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft after she transferred from Louisville to LSU for her final college season.
This wasn’t the performance Van Lith or Chicago were hoping for. Still, it’s just her first year, and rookies often take time to adjust to the professional level. The WNBA is faster and more physical than college basketball, and many players need a full season or more to find their rhythm.
One bad night doesn’t define a player, but too many in a row can change a career trajectory. The ball is in her court now, and Van Lith will have to dig deep and lean into the mindset she once shared with confidence: “I’m gonna fight for every positive day I can get.” That fight might just be what keeps her WNBA dream alive.
Yeah, pretty uneducated take in this article. It’s obvious Van Lith isn’t being developed properly at all, nearly non-existent playing time in the first weeks of the season, then thrown to the wolves when Vandersloot went down. Even so she led the Sky to victory against the Sun with a brilliant all around game. Next game or too, not given enough time in the game or enough good looks to create opportunities to score. You see it with Angel too. One game brilliant, the next struggling in the offense to get good looks. Fact is, Hailey and others have been shackled by an easily defended weak offense designed by a clueless head coach. The Sky won-loss record, their lame offensive sets, are directly attributable to the lack of talent at the coaching level, the over-emphasis on paint play, and what seems to be a lackadaisical defense. Leadership is lacking in that locker room
for sure and that’s squarely on the coaching staff. Savvy experts at the draft could see this coming when they made reference to the questionable coaching there, which meant she would be facing an uphill battle. I’m sure she’ll give it her all and continue to persevere and prove naysayers wrong as she has throughout her career. Hopefully she’ll have a chance down the road for an eventual trade to a team with better coaching, who can and will utilize an offensive scheme that utilizes her considerable skill set. The Sky are a mess, and no place for the Big 12 player of the year and Olympic bronze medalist.
Hailey is a good ball player.
She moves great without the ball, is a fierce defender and a really good ball handler.
Her credentials coming into the league are very strong.
My concern is that she looks very small out there.
I don’t know if there’s an answer to that.