Hailey Van Lith Decision Comes Back to Haunt Chicago Sky originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Hailey Van Lith and the Chicago Sky have not had the season they had hoped for, falling to 8-23 and losing 10 of the last 11 games.
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Angel Reese has been absent for the last five games due to a back injury, with no timeline to return. Well before that, the Sky lost their starting point guard, Courtney Vandersloot, for the entire season.
Now, Chicago is looking at a potential top-five pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, but won’t be able to keep it.
Sky’s Trade For Van Lith
In the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Sky held the No. 10 selection after acquiring the Connecticut Sun’s pick in the Marina Mabrey trade. They went with forward Ajsa Sivka from Slovenia.
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Hailey Van Lith poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert at the 2025 WNBA Draft.Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Chicago also traded back into the first round, receiving the No. 11 pick from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for their 2026 first-round selection. They wound up picking Van Lith at that slot, who is averaging 4.0 points and 1.6 assists during her rookie year.
But the trade may have backfired.
Sky Lose Out on Much-Needed Talent
Due to the trade, the Sky will not have a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, even if they win the lottery and receive the top pick. Sitting near the bottom of the standings, Chicago would have a 25% chance to win the lottery as of Sunday, per Tankathon. If the standings remain the same, the Sky would also be guaranteed a top-four selection, which would be sent to the Lynx.
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Chicago Sky guard Hailey Van Lith looks on against the Golden State ValkyriesDavid Gonzales-Imagn Images
This means the Sky could potentially miss out on a much-needed roster upgrade in what some people consider a deep draft. Some of the prospects that could enter the draft next year include:
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Center Lauren Betts – UCLA
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Guard Ta’Niya Latson – South Carolina
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Guard Flau’jae Johnson – LSU
Up next for the Sky, a battle with Connecticut on Wednesday night.
Related: Chicago Sky Coach Has Strong Words For Aliyah Boston on Saturday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
