What Happened to Hailey Ann Van Lith?
Hailey Van Lith is an American professional basketball player known for her decorated collegiate career at Louisville, LSU, and TCU, where she earned numerous accolades including Big 12 Player of the Year. After being drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft, she was waived by the team on May 4, 2026, just before her second WNBA season. She is also a successful 3x3 basketball player, having won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Quick Answer
Hailey Van Lith, a prominent figure in women's basketball, was waived by the Chicago Sky on May 4, 2026, ahead of her second WNBA season. This move followed a collegiate career that saw her transfer from Louisville to LSU and then to TCU, where she achieved significant success, including being named Big 12 Player of the Year in 2025. She was drafted 11th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft and also holds a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics in 3x3 basketball.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Born in Wenatchee, Washington
Hailey Ann Van Lith was born in Wenatchee, Washington, and would later become a highly touted basketball prospect.
McDonald's All-American and Louisville Commitment
Van Lith was named a McDonald's All-American and committed to play college basketball at the University of Louisville, where she began her collegiate career.
Leads Louisville to NCAA Final Four
As a sophomore, Van Lith played a pivotal role in leading the Louisville Cardinals to the NCAA Final Four.
Transfers to LSU
After three seasons at Louisville, Van Lith announced her transfer to reigning national champion LSU, a significant move in the college basketball landscape.
FIBA 3x3 World Cup Gold Medal
Van Lith achieved international success, winning a gold medal with the United States at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
Enters Transfer Portal from LSU
Following one season with LSU, where her team reached the Elite Eight, Van Lith entered the transfer portal for the second consecutive year.
Announces Transfer to TCU
Van Lith announced her decision to transfer to TCU for the 2024-25 season, marking her third collegiate team.
Paris Olympics Bronze Medal (3x3)
Hailey Van Lith earned a bronze medal with the USA 3x3 Women's National Team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Big 12 Player of the Year and Elite Eight with TCU
In her single season at TCU, Van Lith was named Big 12 Player of the Year and led the Horned Frogs to their first Big 12 titles and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Drafted by Chicago Sky (11th Overall)
Hailey Van Lith was selected as the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky.
WNBA Debut with Chicago Sky
Van Lith made her WNBA debut with the Chicago Sky, recording four points in limited minutes during a game against the Indiana Fever.
Waived by Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky announced they had waived Hailey Van Lith just before the start of her second WNBA season, a surprising move for the former first-round pick.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Hailey Ann Van Lith, born on September 9, 2001, in Wenatchee, Washington, emerged as a top basketball prospect early in her career, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Washington state high school history at Cashmere High School and a McDonald's All-American. Her collegiate journey began at the University of Louisville in 2020, where she quickly established herself as a key player. Over three seasons, she earned first-team All-ACC honors twice and led the Cardinals to the NCAA Final Four in 2022.
In April 2023, Van Lith entered the transfer portal and made a high-profile move to Louisiana State University (LSU), joining the reigning national champions. While at LSU, she averaged 11.6 points and 3.6 assists per game, helping the Tigers reach the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. However, her role and scoring efficiency were scrutinized, leading her to re-enter the transfer portal in April 2024.
Her second transfer landed her at TCU for the 2024-25 season, a move that proved highly successful. At TCU, Van Lith revitalized her game, earning Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors in 2025, becoming the first player to win both awards in the same season. She led the Horned Frogs to their first-ever Big 12 regular season and tournament titles and a remarkable run to the Elite Eight in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, making her the first player to reach the Elite Eight with three different teams.
Beyond college, Van Lith has also excelled in 3x3 basketball, representing the United States. She won a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup and, notably, a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Her success in the 3x3 format earned her the 2024 USA Basketball 3x3 Female Athlete of the Year award.
In the 2025 WNBA Draft, Hailey Van Lith was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky. Her rookie season in 2025 saw her play in 29 games, averaging 3.5 points and 1.6 assists in a limited role, often coming off the bench. Despite showing some improvement in the 2026 preseason, the Chicago Sky announced on May 4, 2026, that they had waived Van Lith, just days before the start of her second WNBA season. This decision, amidst an influx of veteran guards and other draft picks for the Sky, leaves Van Lith seeking a new opportunity in the WNBA or potentially exploring other professional basketball avenues.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Hailey Ann Van Lith made different choices?