The Chicago Sky are betting big on potential — and this offseason, that potential wears the number 11.
Unrivaled’s first season was a massive success, but not without its growing pains. Relief players were often called in at the last minute, barely arriving in Miami before being thrown into the action. This year, the league is taking a smarter approach — introducing a development pool of young, high-upside players who will train and practice with the pros, ready to step in at any moment.
And among those names is Hailey Van Lith, the Chicago Sky’s highly anticipated rookie from the 2025 WNBA Draft. She’s joined by talents like Aziaha James, Haley Jones, Emily Engstler, Laeticia Amihere, and Makayla Timpson — but for Van Lith, this opportunity might be career-defining.
Chicago drafted Van Lith in the first round expecting fireworks. What they got instead was a quiet rookie season — limited minutes, modest stats, and little chance to truly find her rhythm. She averaged just 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes per game. The potential was there, but the opportunity wasn’t.
In fairness, the Sky’s 2025 season was chaos from start to finish. Their win-now plan imploded early, and after Courtney Vandersloot’s ACL injury sidelined the veteran point guard, the team scrambled. Instead of giving Van Lith the keys, they turned to Rachel Banham and midseason signee Sevgi Uzun — leaving the rookie with scraps of playing time and little consistency.
Now, Unrivaled might be her reset button.
Unlike her rookie campaign, this environment gives Van Lith something she didn’t have last season — structure, repetition, and confidence. Training daily with elite-level competition and championship-caliber veterans could help her rebuild rhythm, sharpen her playmaking instincts, and rediscover the swagger that made her a collegiate star.
For the Sky, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The team’s future is hanging by a thread. With just four players currently under contract for 2026 and Angel Reese openly demanding a competitive roster, Chicago’s front office is under pressure to develop or collapse. If free agency doesn’t deliver new firepower, their only way forward is internal growth — and that starts with Van Lith.
There’s no question she still has the talent. Her college career was defined by her grit, leadership, and offensive tenacity. What she lacked in size, she made up for in intensity. Now, in Unrivaled’s controlled yet competitive setting, she has a rare chance to rebuild without the brutal spotlight of a full WNBA season.
It’s not an exaggeration to say her performance this winter could help decide the Sky’s trajectory in 2026. A confident, improved Van Lith next season could stabilize Chicago’s backcourt, ease the load on Angel Reese, and finally give the Sky the young core they envisioned when they drafted her.
Hailey Van Lith’s rookie season may not have lived up to the hype — but this next chapter might. And if she makes the most of her time in Unrivaled, don’t be surprised when Chicago’s “development project” becomes their next breakout star.
Because if this offseason has proven anything, it’s that Hailey Van Lith isn’t done yet — she’s just getting started.
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