“Meant to be🩵,” the Sky posted, welcoming Hailey Van Lith to Chicago. And on the surface, it does feel like a match made for the moment. The franchise, fresh off a disappointing 13-27 finish in 2024, is clearly turning the page. Hailey Van Lith, the fiery TCU guard and former LSU teammate of Angel Reese, was picked 11th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, sending fans into a frenzy. She’s popular, marketable, and, most importantly, productive. Add in that she and Reese already have chemistry from college? It sounds like a dream.

Still, the excitement around Van Lith is just one layer of what’s been a whirlwind offseason in Chicago. New head coach. Star veterans returning. Some key losses. And a rookie class that arrives with huge expectations. It’s a lot to process, even for the most optimistic fans. And as national analyst Rachel put it bluntly in her early-season preview on Courtside, “I’m just not sure how this team is going to gel together.”

Rachel didn’t hesitate to name Chicago first when listing teams that could float around the playoff bubble all season. Not because the team lacks talent, but because it’s unclear if they’ve built something concrete. And that’s the million-dollar question. On paper, there’s plenty to like. But basketball isn’t played on paper.

Let’s start with the reunion. Courtney Vandersloot is back in the Windy City after a two-year stint in New York. It’s a full-circle moment. Vandersloot was drafted third overall by Chicago in 2011, spent 12 seasons with the team, and helped lead the Sky to their first-ever WNBA championship in 2021. That run, fueled by her playmaking and veteran calm, cemented her as one of the greats in Sky history.

But this is a different chapter. Vandersloot returns at 35, and while her leadership is unquestioned, the roster around her isn’t the same. The Sky of 2021 ran like a metronome—poised, experienced, and efficient. This year’s team feels like it’s still figuring itself out.

There’s Angel Reese, who’s already earned her starting spot. Kamilla Cardoso, another rookie with massive potential. Van Lith, the wildcard with flair and fire. But you can’t talk about this team without talking about what they lost. Chennedy Carter. Veteran point guard for the Sky.

In 2024, Carter was Chicago’s best offensive weapon, putting up 17.5 points per game and playing with the kind of swagger that brought fans out of their seats. She also claimed the Guard of the Year award, a testament to her all-around talent and impact on the court. Finishing the season with an impressive stat line of 32 points per game (PPG), three steals per game, and an average of 31 minutes per game, Carter became a dominant force on the court. Her departure might have been a tough pill to swallow. “Love Cennedy Carter or hate Cennedy Carter,” as Rachel said, “she was a pivotal piece in Chicago.”

Her scoring, her energy, her presence—it was all vital to the Sky’s identity last season. And while her career hasn’t been without turbulence—most notably her 2021 suspension by the Atlanta Dream for “conduct detrimental to the team” after a heated argument, followed by a short-lived stint with the Sparks—it’s impossible to deny her impact. When Carter was locked in, she was one of the most electric guards in the league.

Replacing that kind of punch? Not easy. Sure, Vandersloot can steady the offense. She’ll be the floor general. But the Sky still have to find new ways to manufacture points, stay consistent, and build cohesion with so many new faces. And that’s where the coaching staff comes in.

Hailey Van Lith’s Chicago Sky Hit Reset Under Tyler Marsh

Tyler Marsh steps into his first season as head coach of the Chicago Sky carrying the kind of résumé that earns respect—championship experience from the Toronto Raptors and the Las Vegas Aces. But this time, he’s not just part of a well-oiled machine. He’s the one building it from scratch.

The Sky aren’t just plugging in a few fresh faces—they’re overhauling everything. With Hailey Van Lith headlining a rookie class full of promise, the real question isn’t about talent. It’s about chemistry, identity, and whether Marsh and his staff can shape this squad into something playoff-worthy.

He won’t be alone. Chicago’s revamped bench features former WNBA stars Courtney Paris and Tanisha Wright, plus Rene Wakama, the head coach of Nigeria’s national team, who joined in March. The Sky also added Aaron Johnson as a player development coach—a trusted name from Marsh’s UAB days. It’s a staff designed to bring energy, experience, and structure.

Backing them up is a reshaped front office led by Donnie Marsh, David Simon, and Can Ozbalkan, tasked with building a foundation strong enough to support the franchise’s next chapter. The Sky may be in flux, but with a new system and a clear direction, they’re hoping Hailey Van Lith can thrive, not just as a player, but as a face of the rebuild.

It all begins on May 17, when the Sky open their season against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever—a matchup that might set the tone for the months ahead.