It has been an eventful few weeks for former TCU guard Hailey Van Lith. After appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue for 2025, Van Lith is now living out her dream of becoming a WNBA star. The 5’7″ guard is awaiting the decision of WNBA teams at the WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.
But before the event, Van Lith stunned fans with her outfit at the 2025 WNBA Draft’s orange carpet. All eyes were on her, and she owned the moment like a pro.
Hailey Van Lith Turns Heads on the Orange Carpet
Van Lith rocked a sleek black dress before the event that drew cameras on the orange carpet.
Hailey Van Lith is here on the Orange Carpet ahead of her big night 🔥
Orange Carpet | Presented by @Coach pic.twitter.com/rsPrch7dic
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 14, 2025
While the outfit made a statement, the real question is where Van Lith will land in the draft. Most mock drafts have her projected as a late first-round pick, though some see her slipping into the early second-round.
Still, Van Lith did plenty to help her stock this season. After transferring from LSU, Van Lith delivered a huge season at TCU. She was named Big 12 Player of the Year (and Newcomer of the Year) and averaged 17.9 points and 5.4 assists per game. She guided the Horned Frogs to an Elite Eight run, marking the fifth straight Elite Eight she reached at the college level.
PFSN’s Brandon Austin projected that Van Lith would get drafted No. 10 overall by the Chicago Sky. Here’s what Austin wrote in his mock draft about her potential fit alongside Angel Reese and Co.:
“The 2024 season was disappointing for the Chicago Sky, who fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon,” Austin wrote. “They also moved on from Chennedy Carter, the team’s leading scorer last season. There are reasons for optimism, though. Angel Reese has been working with Lisa Leslie, and she showed flashes of being a better player during the Unrivaled season. Chicago also added veterans Courtney Vandersloot, Rebecca Allen, and Kia Nurse.”
“The Sky could help offset the loss of Carter by adding Hailey Van Lith, who offers a scoring punch herself. After a down year with LSU, Van Lith enjoyed a resurgence at TCU, scoring 17.9 points per game. Her performance down the stretch helped raise her draft stock, including a 26-point effort against Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament.
“Van Lith made tremendous strides as a point guard this season. She’s not overly athletic, but she’s crafty with the ball in her hands. She can score off the dribble and find ways to get to the rim. Van Lith has been a liability defensively throughout her career, and those lapses are why other teams may pass on her earlier. Still, she has the toughness and intangibles you want in your locker room. Reuniting Van Lith with Reese could be fun.”
Van Lith has proven she can command attention on and off the court. She brought style to the orange carpet, but she will soon find out where her WNBA journey will begin.