As the Chicago Sky prepares to face the Indiana Fever in a nationally televised season opener, the highly anticipated rookie guard Hailey Van Lith’s status has become one of the game’s most significant question marks.
Van Lith is officially listed as questionable due to an ankle issue, placing her WNBA debut in jeopardy just days before tip-off. The Sky have yet to confirm whether she’ll suit up for Saturday’s matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but anticipation around her first regular-season appearance has been building for months.
Hailey Van Lith Faces High Expectations, Rising Buzz
Van Lith entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, coming off a breakout season at TCU, where she helped lead the Horned Frogs to their first NCAA Elite Eight appearance. Her aggressive style of play, scoring ability, and relentless drive quickly turned heads in Chicago’s preseason outings.
In three preseason games, Van Lith averaged 6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, including an eight-point effort against the Minnesota Lynx. She has shown flashes of becoming a high-impact rotation piece, thriving in transition and attacking mismatches with poise.
Sky forward Angel Reese, Van Lith’s former LSU teammate, advocated vocally for her selection.
“I told [Sky GM] Jeff [Pagliocca] during the draft process, I was like, ‘If you want a dog, go get Hailey.’ And I kept telling him that,” Reese said. “You can see her grit. She’s one of the first in the gym and one of the last to leave.”
Van Lith has also leaned into the physical nature of the league. Chicago Tribune reporter Julia Poe recalled a humorous yet telling moment during training camp:
“Second day of training camp, I sit down to talk with Hailey, and I’m like, ‘How’s training camp? Are you a little banged up?’ And she goes, ‘Well, Kia Nurse has scratch marks from here to here on her neck right now.’ … [Hailey] looks back at me, she goes, ‘Yeah.’”
A Big Stage for Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever
The Sky-Fever opener is among the most anticipated games of the WNBA’s opening weekend, featuring multiple first-round picks and storylines surrounding Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s first head-to-head meeting.
While Clark leads an Indiana team poised to build on last year’s playoff berth, the Sky are still working to establish chemistry around their new core. Van Lith’s presence off the bench could provide a needed spark, particularly against a Fever team known for its fast pace and high-octane perimeter play.
Without her, the Sky can lean on Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins, and Kia Nurse on the perimeter as usual, but it would be reduced if Van Lith cannot play. A few potential bench options include Rachel Banham and Moriah Jefferson.
As of Friday evening, Van Lith’s status remained day-to-day, with no official word from the Sky on her availability. Her presence—or absence— will be a focal point heading into ABC’s 3 p.m. ET tip-off.
Whether she plays or not, Van Lith’s WNBA journey is just beginning. But all eyes will be on the Sky bench to see if No. 2 checks in for her long-awaited debut on one of the league’s brightest stages.
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