Hailey Van Lith made her Chicago Sky debut on Friday during the team’s preseason matchup against the Brazil national team. Selected No. 11 in the 2025 WNBA draft, Van Lith didn’t start the game but made her first appearance off the bench in the second half.
Van Lith delivered exactly what the 6,000 fans inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge came to see. The rookie ignited the crowd after entering the game in the third quarter, energizing the arena with her aggressive offensive drives and tenacious defense that had the building buzzing.
The Sky rookie finished the game with seven points on 1-for-2 shooting, including 0-for-1 from beyond the arc. She made all her five free throws while also recording three rebounds, five assists and two steals in 13:06 minutes.
Hailey Van Lith announces her WNBA arrival in style in preseason game vs. Brazil National Team
The former LSU standout electrified the crowd as she scored her first basket for the Chicago Sky. The 5-foot-9 point guard drove aggressively into the paint, finished through contact and confidently sank the free throw to complete the three-point play.
What stood out most about Hailey Van Lith’s debut was her command of the offense. She pushed the tempo in transition and delivered a pinpoint assist to set up a teammate, showcasing her court vision and playmaking instincts. Focused and determined, the Sky rookie played with intensity and purpose, her hunger evident in every possession.
Defensively, Van Lith embraced the challenge with grit, using her physicality to stay locked in on her assignments. Offensively, she continued to attack the rim with force, drawing multiple fouls and converting from the line with composure. It was a well-rounded performance that hinted at her potential impact this season.
In the third quarter, Hailey Van Lith played 5:43 minutes and scored seven points on 1-for-2 shooting from the floor. She also shot 5-for-5 from the free-throw line and recorded one assist and one steal.
Hailey Van Lith logged significant minutes in the fourth quarter and impressed onlookers with her sharp playmaking ability. Although the Sky rookie didn’t add to her seven third-quarter points, she made her presence felt in other ways, filling up the stat sheet with rebounds, assists and steals, all fueled by her relentless defensive energy.