Hailey Van Lith

It’s not often that a game featuring a 35-point victory margin can make a case for being must-see until the final buzzer, but given the collection of household names involved — and memorable rivalries — the Chicago Sky’s season opener likely qualified as such. Brainstorming through ways to prevail in a high-profile top-of-the-key isolation, Hailey Van Lith illustrates one of the many examples, outmaneuvering well-known foe Caitlin Clark during a rapid-fire pick-and-roll rejection that unlocks pathways for a right-side drive. Less pressured with the Indiana Fever’s superstar in the rearview mirror, the former All-American mixes touch and fearlessness in her attack, floating in a soft-touch, one-legged bucket through traffic. Anyone with interest in women’s college basketball over the last half-decade likely found themselves glued to May 17, 2025’s action, and Van Lith didn’t disappoint in her brief four-minute appearance. Commanding a slight footnote, even in defeat, Van Lith registered four points (on two-of-two shooting) during her WNBA debut.

Three-Star Rookie

Top Shot Debut