Sky waive Hailey Van Lith — one year after taking her No. 11

Hailey Van Lith just got the rudest welcome to her second pro season. The Chicago Sky waived her on Monday — one year after drafting her 11th overall. ESPN's sources called it a 'style of play preference' move. Translation: the rebuilt front office didn't see her in the rotation, so they bounced her before opening night.

The pivot was immediate. Chicago signed veteran point guard Natasha Cloud the same week, the latest piece in a roster overhaul that's left fans asking what exactly the plan is. Van Lith appeared in 29 games as a rookie and averaged 3.5 points and 1.6 assists in a limited role behind Chennedy Carter and others. Not great. But waiving a top-12 pick before her sophomore tip is the kind of move that gets a GM blamed if it goes wrong.

Van Lith has 48 hours to clear waivers and ESPN reports she's in active conversations with multiple teams. If she clears, the Sky's two development spots are technically still on the table. But after this, why would she go back? The 2026 W just got one of its best stories: a top-12 pick fighting to prove a team wrong before she's even played a real game in May.