As Cathy Engelbert took the stage at The Shed, franchises banked their futures on 20-year-olds, and the prediction mill ticked off the boxes, one player sat with her fingers crossed. This one wasn’t about going unpicked. Hailey Van Lith may have been left off the early mock drafts’ Top 12, but after the end she had to her collegiate run, it was anyone’s guess she was a lottery pick. What HVL instead awaited was the team name she’d hear alongside hers. There were questions, there were happy tears when the moment finally arrived, but had the Horned Frog landed where she wished?

While Aneesah Morrow left her LSU teammate Angel Reese behind to join the Connecticut Sun, someone else from that 2023–24 LSU squad made her way back to Reese. With the 11th pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Chicago Sky selected Hailey. “Oh, I love that energy,” she stated when asked what she thought about reuniting with a fellow former Tiger.

But a few weren’t convinced. ESPN analyst Jason Whitlock was one of them. He believed the comment was too effortless. “You know, she had a chance to say something like, ‘Great. Angel and I are familiar with each other from LSU. This is going to be awesome,'” he’d say. For Whitlock, someone known to have been critical of Reese in the past, Hailey’s remarks didn’t hit the mark. He went on as far as to say the Chi-Town Barbie wasn’t exactly the favorite on the LSU squad, questioning HVL’s actual satisfaction in heading towards the Windy City. 

For anyone who rode on that sentiment, the TCU star is here to make things clear with one sentence.

“I had a few great conversations. Deep in my heart, I wanted to come to the Sky. I hoped I was available when Chicago’s picks came.” She wasn’t hesitating. She was hoping. And she wasn’t just open to reuniting with Angel Reese—she was looking forward to it.

In fact, when asked about her bond with Reese, Van Lith made it clear they never lost touch: “Angel has maintained contact with me this whole past year since she’s been in the league and I transferred. I really appreciate her.”

But it wasn’t just casual check-ins. The two built a real connection rooted in mutual respect—both for the way they play and the way they carry themselves. Van Lith talked about the similarities in their mindsets, their drive, and their energy. She called Angel someone who elevates everyone around her, someone who brings intensity and accountability to the room. That’s the environment Hailey wants to be in. That’s the kind of teammate she’s excited to be around again.

So no questions about Hailey’s interest in moving to Chicago ever again.

And on the flip side, Angel has echoed those same sentiments too. Long before the draft came into the picture even. When once asked if she was ever close with Van Lith at LSU, Reese didn’t hesitate: “We were super close.” She explained how she had made a special effort to get closer to HVL, especially because she seemed more isolated on that LSU team. Being the only white player on the roster, transferring into a stacked program, and struggling with confidence early on—it wasn’t an easy transition. But Reese saw that and stepped in. She backed her then, and she’s still backing her now.

Of course, LSU wasn’t a perfect fit for Van Lith. Her role was limited, her usage rate dropped, and her rhythm was off. It led to the least efficient season of her college career. But instead of folding, she bet on herself again—transferring to TCU, taking on a new role, and evolving her game into a more playmaking-driven style that caught WNBA scouts’ attention. Her perseverance made her a viable pro prospect again, and Chicago saw the value she brings.

“She has a toughness about her. There’s no complacency there in terms of what her improvement and potential can be. And that’s part of the culture we want to build here in Chicago,” Tyler Marsh said, picking HVL. Reese is excited too.

Soon after the draft announcement, the Chi-Town Barbie was quick to drop a post on X that read, “We ain’t do it right the first time. Let’s run it backkkkk.” This is a reunion rooted in respect, not rivalry. And as Van Lith put it, she’s just “excited to be around her again.” This time, the environment’s different. The mission’s new. 

What Hailey Van Lith’s Chicago Looks Like After Draft Night

First off, she’s not walking in solo.Former South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso is there. Angel Reese is there. Those two ran it up as the “twin towers” last season.

Van Lith? She’s already hyped. “I love playing with size—it makes my job a lot easier,” she said. “I can’t wait to get to play with Angel and Kamilla.” She added, “I played against Kamilla a lot of times, but never with her. That’ll add a youthful flair and some fun energy.” The Sky just might be one of the most exciting young squads to watch this season. They’ve got that gritty identity and now, a guard who thrives in chaos, can make plays under pressure, and is fully embracing a new chapter.

And it’s not just about Hailey and the towers. Chicago also introduced their second-round pick, Maddy Westbeld out of Notre Dame—taken 16th overall. She’s tough, versatile, and brings a steady presence. 

Third-round pick Aicha Coulibaly (Texas A&M) is recovering from a knee injury but says rehab is going really well. She only played 19 games last year, but her upside is there—especially defensively. And then there’s the wildcard: forward Ajša Sivka, the Slovenian star who might not report this season, but she’s a name to know. She torched the 2023 FIBA U18 Women’s Euros—15.9 points, 9.3 boards, 2.4 steals, and an MVP trophy to show for it.

The season tips off May 17—with a road showdown against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. That’s one way to test the chemistry fast.