She walked onto draft night with Jalen Suggs by her side and a nation watching. Less than a year later, the Chicago Sky waived her — and now the basketball world is wondering: what’s next for Hailey Van Lith?
Whether you’ve been following her since her Louisville days or just started hearing her name, here’s a complete, fact-checked breakdown of the player, the person, and what she means for women’s basketball.
Who Is Hailey Van Lith?
Hailey Van Lith is a 24-year-old American professional basketball player and one of the most recognizable names in women’s basketball today. Born on September 9, 2001, in Wenatchee, Washington, she grew up in the small town of Cashmere, WA — and turned that small-town upbringing into one of the most decorated college careers in recent history.
Standing 5-foot-9 and shooting left-handed, Van Lith plays guard and is known for her relentless competitiveness, attacking style, and off-court presence that rivals many athletes twice her age in terms of brand recognition.
Before she ever stepped into a WNBA arena, she had already made history at three different college programs, won multiple FIBA gold medals for Team USA, and built a social media following of over 1.8 million across Instagram and TikTok. That’s not luck — that’s a brand.
How Old Is Hailey Van Lith?
Hailey Van Lith was born on September 9, 2001, making her 24 years old as of 2026. She grew up in Cashmere, Washington, where her father Corey Van Lith — a former basketball and baseball player at the University of Puget Sound — trained her four to five nights per week from a young age.
Her parents own a custom home building business, and she has a brother, Tanner, who played baseball at Big Bend Community College. It’s a sports family through and through. She’s modeled her game after legends like Diana Taurasi and drew early inspiration from Seattle Storm stars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart — two names she’d eventually follow into professional basketball.
Hailey Van Lith’s College Career: Three Schools, One Legacy
Did Hailey Van Lith play at multiple colleges?
Yes — and she thrived at each stop. Van Lith’s college journey took her through three programs: Louisville (2020–2023), LSU (2023–2024), and TCU (2024–2025).
At Louisville, she was a two-time First-Team All-ACC selection and led the Cardinals to the Final Four as a sophomore in 2022. After three seasons with the Cardinals, she made the highly publicized transfer to LSU to play alongside Angel Reese — a pairing that generated national headlines.
Then came TCU. In her final college season with the Horned Frogs, Van Lith was named Big 12 Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year after averaging 17.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game (per WNBA.com). She also led TCU to its first Big 12 titles in both the regular season and conference tournament — historic firsts for the program.
Before TCU even started paying dividends in the March Madness bracket, she had already cemented herself as one of the best college players in the country. During the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 win over Notre Dame, Van Lith scored 26 points — including 12 in the fourth quarter — with Suggs and her dad watching from the stands.
Oh, and she also holds the all-time leading scorer record in Washington state high school history. She’s been making records since she was 14.
Hailey Van Lith WNBA Draft: How Did It Go?
When was Hailey Van Lith drafted, and by which team?
On April 14, 2025, the Chicago Sky selected Hailey Van Lith with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft (per the official Chicago Sky press release and WNBA.com). It was a moment she shared publicly with Jalen Suggs in a now-viral kiss that confirmed their relationship to the world.
Her draft position reflected her college credentials: a Big 12 Player of the Year, All-American, and one of the most talked-about guards in women’s basketball at the time. The Sky passed on guards Aziaha James (No. 12) and Te-Hina Paopao (No. 16) — both of whom have gone on to make significant impacts elsewhere — to take her at 11.
The 2025 WNBA Draft class was headlined by Paige Bueckers at No. 1. Van Lith’s selection generated major attention, not just for her play but for the moment itself — a new era of WNBA visibility, celebrity, and genuine public excitement around women’s basketball.
Hailey Van Lith WNBA Stats: What Happened With Chicago Sky?
How did Hailey Van Lith perform in her WNBA rookie season?
Honestly? It was a tough debut. Van Lith appeared in 29 games for the Chicago Sky during the 2025 season, all off the bench, averaging 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes per game (per Basketball-Reference.com). She shot 33.9% from the field and a rough 16.1% from three.
Her best game of the season came on June 15, 2025, against the Connecticut Sun — when she led the Sky with 16 points and added five rebounds, an assist, and a block. That was the kind of Hailey Van Lith people expected to see more regularly.
Unfortunately, ankle injuries derailed much of her season. She missed the final seven games due to ongoing ankle problems, and in October 2025, she revealed on social media that she had undergone surgery to address the issue.
These numbers were a steep drop from her college averages. The adjustment from college star to WNBA backup is never smooth, but the gap felt wider than expected. Still, Van Lith was a 24-year-old rookie dealing with injury on a rebuilding team — context matters.
Why Did Chicago Sky Waive Hailey Van Lith?
What happened between Hailey Van Lith and the Chicago Sky?
On May 4, 2026, the Chicago Sky officially waived Hailey Van Lith. ESPN’s Kendra Andrews reported the move came down to a “style of play preference” between Van Lith and the coaching staff.
Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca was candid but fair in his assessment, telling ESPN: “It’s not necessarily anything that Hailey did or didn’t do. She works hard. She battled through injuries. She competes, she’s coachable, she’s great in the locker room. There’s a bright future for her in this league.”
The Sky are rebuilding. They traded Angel Reese to Atlanta, added Skylar Diggins on a two-year deal, acquired Jacy Sheldon via trade, and then — on the same day they waived Van Lith — they signed veteran guard Natasha Cloud to a one-year, $555,000 contract (per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou). Simply put, the roster shifted direction, and there wasn’t a role for her in Chicago’s new system.
This is the sometimes brutal reality of the WNBA. Rosters are tight, margins are slim, and even first-round picks can find themselves on the outside looking in after one season.
Who Is Natasha Cloud and Why Did Chicago Sign Her?
What does Natasha Cloud bring to the Chicago Sky?
Natasha Cloud is a veteran WNBA guard entering her 11th professional season with the Sky as her fourth team. At 34 years old, she’s the kind of experienced, proven presence the rebuilt Chicago backcourt needed.
Cloud averaged 10.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game with the New York Liberty in 2025. In three playoff games that year, she elevated to 12.7 points per game while shooting 50% from three-point range. She’s a three-time All-WNBA Defensive Team selection (2019, 2022, 2024) and a championship winner with the Washington Mystics in 2019 (per Basketball-Reference.com).
In short, Cloud brings exactly what the Sky said they wanted: a player whose style of play fits their system. Her signing essentially closed the door at Chicago for Van Lith — at least for now.
Hailey Van Lith Boyfriend: The Jalen Suggs Story
Are Hailey Van Lith and Jalen Suggs still together?
As of late 2025, Hailey Van Lith and Jalen Suggs have broken up. The two first sparked dating rumors in June 2021, when Suggs posted an Instagram photo with Van Lith captioned “Yea, we solid on this end.” For the next four years, they navigated one of the most high-profile relationships in basketball.
Their relationship was confirmed publicly in the most memorable way possible: at the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, after Van Lith was selected by Chicago, the two shared a celebratory kiss that went viral within hours. That moment said everything without either of them saying a word.
But in November 2025, during a livestream with content creator N3on, Jalen Suggs was asked directly whether he was in a relationship. His response: “I’m not.” The two had already unfollowed each other on Instagram and deleted shared posts in the months prior — both subtle signals that had fans speculating long before the confirmation.
Suggs is an Orlando Magic guard who signed a massive five-year, $150.5 million extension with the team. He’s a former NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree and one of basketball’s most recognizable young faces. During their relationship, he attended several of Van Lith’s games and was vocal in interviews about admiring her competitive intensity.
For what it’s worth, Suggs was incredibly supportive throughout her draft journey — including flying to New York for the draft despite recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery that ended his 2024–25 NBA season early. By all accounts, they were genuinely supportive of each other. Sometimes things just don’t work out, even in the best stories.
What Is Hailey Van Lith’s Net Worth?
How much is Hailey Van Lith worth in 2026?
Hailey Van Lith’s estimated net worth is between $1 million and $5 million, according to multiple estimates including GuideNetworth.com and SportsAthletesHistory.com. She built this through a combination of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals, endorsement contracts, WNBA salary, and a significant social media following.
Her NIL valuation during college ranked #5 among women’s college basketball players nationwide (per On3 Sports), estimated at around $758,000. She holds an endorsement deal with Adidas — signed in 2022 — which is her headline partnership, along with partnerships with LaCroix and Apple Cash among others.
For context: her WNBA rookie salary represents only a fraction of her total earnings, typically in the $64,000–$76,000 range under the WNBA CBA depending on draft position. The real money, for players like Van Lith, comes from off-court deals. And she’s smart about it — she earned a finance degree from TCU and has spoken openly about wanting to understand her own money.
With 1.8 million+ combined social media followers, she remains one of the most marketable young athletes in women’s sports — regardless of what happens next on the court.
Hailey Van Lith’s Olympic and International Career
Has Hailey Van Lith played for Team USA?
Yes — and she’s been doing it since she was a teenager.
Van Lith won a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Belarus and another at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Thailand, where she scored 16 points in the final to help the U.S. beat Australia 74–70 in overtime. She was also named MVP at the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Cup in Mongolia.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Van Lith competed in 3×3 basketball with Team USA and won a bronze medal. Seven FIBA medals in total across various competitions — the woman collects hardware.
What’s Next for Hailey Van Lith?
Where will Hailey Van Lith play after Chicago?
As of May 5, 2026, Van Lith has been waived and is a free agent. Per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, her representatives are already in “active conversations with multiple teams.” After clearing the 48-hour waiver period, she’ll be free to sign with any WNBA team.
Several landing spots make sense. The Seattle Storm recently waived their 14th pick guard Taina Mair and could use a young option behind Natisha Hiedeman and Jordan Horston. The Portland Fire — a new expansion team built around instinct-led basketball — could also be an interesting fit for a player like Van Lith, who thrives working off the ball.
At 24, she still has plenty of time to develop into the WNBA player her college résumé promised. The WNBA is a league where second chances are real and player trajectories can shift dramatically from one season to the next.
Key Facts About Hailey Van Lith at a Glance
- Full name: Hailey Ann Van Lith
- Date of birth: September 9, 2001 (Age 24)
- Hometown: Cashmere, Washington
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Weight: 155 lbs
- Position: Guard (shoots left)
- Colleges: Louisville (2020–23), LSU (2023–24), TCU (2024–25)
- WNBA draft: 11th overall pick, Chicago Sky, 2025
- 2025 WNBA stats: 29 games, 3.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.6 APG (Basketball-Reference.com)
- International honors: 7x FIBA medalist, 2024 Olympic bronze (3×3)
- Endorsements: Adidas, LaCroix, Apple Cash
- Estimated net worth: $1M–$5M (2026)
- Social media: 1.8M+ combined Instagram/TikTok followers
Final Thoughts
Hailey Van Lith’s story is still being written. The highlight reel has moments of brilliance — the draft night kiss, the 26-point Sweet 16 explosion, the Olympic bronze. But professional basketball is unforgiving, and a rough rookie season followed by a waiver notice is a reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee tenure.
What separates Van Lith from many in her position is what she has off the court: financial savvy, a genuine brand, international experience, and the kind of competitive fire that coaches always want on their roster — even when a “style of play preference” gets in the way.
The basketball world hasn’t seen the last of her. Not even close.
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