It was not the debut season many had anticipated for Hailey Van Lith after she was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Injuries and a lack of playing opportunities saw her rookie campaign fizzle out, leaving her future with the franchise somewhat unclear. However, Van Lith made a strong preseason statement against the Phoenix Mercury, showing she is ready for a more prominent role in the rotation -- and it could come at the expense of fellow guard Jacy Sheldon
Tyler Marsh was clear with his offensive blueprint for the Sky in his first year as a head coach: space the floor and do not be afraid to shoot your shot from deep. In 2025, Chicago averaged 20.2 three-point attempts per game -- a significant increase from a league-low of 12.9 in 2024. On paper, Hailey Van Lith was the perfect weapon to unleash under these circumstances, but even when she was available for selection, Marsh opted for other players in the guard position.
Now, after a confident display against the Mercury, the 24-year-old has made a statement Tyler Marsh cannot ignore and may force the coach to reward Van Lith with a starting berth in future games if this becomes a consistent feature of her game.
Van Lith's offensive masterclass piles pressure on Sheldon
Chicago may have fallen to a 104-108 defeat at the hands of Phoenix, but there were positive signs that the team can carry forward into the regular season. One of which was Van Lith's devastating offensive performance.
In around 17 minutes on the court, Van Lith accumulated 20 points and three assists, showcasing her versatile skill set. The TCU graduate drained all eight of her field-goal attempts, with only one of these shots coming from outside the arc. Van Lith scored all of her points in the second half and stayed aggressive throughout her opportunity to impress.
There is no doubt that this was a superior performance compared to her teammate, Jacy Sheldon. Despite their game time being almost identical, Sheldon failed to have a similar impact when in possession of the ball. The 25-year-old recorded three points and two assists, while shooting 20% from the floor.
Nobody should be judged entirely after one preseason game, and this should not be an indictment of Sheldon's performance. Not only is this her first game of the year, but she is adjusting to a new city, new system, and new teammates and should be granted a grace period to adapt to her surroundings. Nevertheless, that should not prevent players such as Van Lith from viewing this as an opportunity to change perceptions of their role within the squad.
After an underwhelming debut season, Hailey Van Lith still has plenty of work to do to prove she can become a mainstay in the Chicago Sky rotation. However, if she can maintain an impressive level of offensive production, Tyler Marsh will have no choice but to increase her minutes on the floor -- and she could even take the starting berth from Jacy Sheldon in the process.
Add us as a preferred source on Google