WNBA: Draft Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Hailey Van Lith on the orange carpet before the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

‘Muted’: Chicago Sky’s Hailey Van Lith faces criticism for performance against Lynx

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated May 7, 2025 4:05 PM ET

Hailey Van Lith found out she’s going to have a steep learning curve following her first WNBA preseason game for the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night. She scored three points, added five assists, and one rebound in the Sky’s 74-69 win over the Minnesota Lynx in front of 4,688 fans at Wintrust Arena.

Van Lith, the No. 11 pick in the 2025 draft, came off the bench for Chicago. While her assists helped the Sky earn the win, her best stuff came against Minnesota’s bench.

Hailey Van Lith had some growing pains on Tuesday night

WNBA: Draft Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Hailey Van Lith on the orange carpet before the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune had serious criticism for the former LSU and TCU standout, calling her 17 minutes on Tuesday night a “welcome to the league” game for Van Lith.

“The challenge came from two elite guards — Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, a pair of dogged defenders who smothered Van Lith on the perimeter, Poe wrote. “The Sky rookie struggled to cleanly connect her screens with the ball in her hands and couldn’t get her typical separation when cutting off the ball.

“The result was a muted scoring performance from Van Lith — she missed her only shot in the three quarters with Hiedeman and Williams on the court — but the guard managed three assists with zero turnovers in that stretch.”

Poe noted that Van Lith has “work to do” before she’s ready to play against starting guards in the WNBA. That issue isn’t necessarily a big problem for the talented rookie, as she’s expected to learn behind Courtney Vandersloot in 2025.

The Chicago Sky will adjust Van Lith’s style

WNBA: Preseason Minnesota Lynx at Chicago Sky Chicago Sky guard Hailey Van Lith (2) looks on during the first half of a WNBA pre-season game against the Minnesota Lynx at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Sky head coach Tyler Marsh said the team would use Tuesday night as an opportunity to make “adjustments” for Van Lith going forward.

“It’s tough,” coach Tyler Marsh said. “It’s a first real look at W action, and those are certified WNBA guards. That’s the kind of pressure that she’s going to feel night in, night out. So it’s good to get her used to that tonight and we’ll make our adjustments. There’s nothing like true hands-on experience, and I’m sure she’ll learn from the minutes that she got today.”

Van Lith had a better outing Friday night against the Brazilian national team. She recorded seven points, five assists, and three rebounds in Chicago’s 89-62 win on Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Van Lith has one more tune-up game before the Sky’s regular season opener against the Indiana Fever on May 17. Chicago will play the Lynx on Saturday. Hopefully, the adjustment will have Van Lith playing efficiently.

Syndication: The Knoxville News Sentinel LSU’s Angel Reese (10) and teammates try to calm Hailey Van Lith (11) after a foul was called against Lith during an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Sunday, February 25, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. © Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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