Why Natasha Cloud’s arrival meant the end for Hailey Van Lith in Chicago

After just one season, Hailey Van Lith is out in Chicago.

On Monday, Van Lith, who was drafted with the 11th overall pick last year, was waived by the Sky after playing 29 games for the organization.

Chicago's decision to move on from the 24-year-old guard comes amid what looked to be a promising sophomore season. During the Sky's preseason slate, Van Lith averaged 12.5 points on 71.4% shooting and had 4.5 assists across two games. On April 25, she scored 20 points against the Phoenix Mercury, going a 8-of-8 from the floor.

Van Lith's exit before the 2026 season begins leads to many questions: Why did Chicago waive her? What went wrong in the Windy City?

Here's a timeline of what led up to Chicago's split with Van Lith:

Van Lith's draft position didn't help

After three seasons at Louisville and one at LSU, Van Lith opted to stay one more year in college basketball and transferred to TCU. The decision to return to school for a fifth season didn't come without criticism, but Van Lith was unfazed.

"I'm not gonna allow people to make me feel bad because I was blessed with this opportunity to play five years," Van Lith said in March of 2025. "For a female in sports, the reality is the professional level just isn't as accessible or attainable as the men's side. So, to maximize on your brand and what you bring to the table and capaitlize on your name, image and likeness, you have to take advantage of that in college."

Capitalizing is exactly what Van Lith did. She had a standout year with the Horned Frogs, where she earned multiple Big 12 honors, a Big 12 championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. Van Lith's noticeable rise powered her up the draft boards and into the first round. However, with her newfound elevation came the immediate expectation to produce. Chicago, a franchise with a "win now" mindset, couldn't wait.

Courney Vandersloot's injury sped up Van Lith's development

In Van Lith's first four games, she averaged roughly nine minutes of play, but that quickly changed on June 7, 2025. Chicago's starting point guard, Courtney Vandersloot, tore the ACL in her right knee against the Indiana Fever.Vandersloot's season-ending injury sent Chicago's season into a tailspin and threw Van Lith into the point guard position, ready or not. The Sky tried to help ease Van Lith's growing load of responsibilities by having veteran players like Rachel Banham take over duties at times, but it did little to help Van Lith's struggles.

She never found her footing or the balance between scoring and facilitating. Despite playing in 29 games, Van Lith never started and averaged 3.5 points on 33.9% shooting and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes of playing time. The first-year pro, who struggled to find a consistent 3-point shot in college (33.8%), was even worse in the pros. Van Lith shot 16.1% from 3-point range as a member of the Sky. Add in 1.2 turnovers per matchup and the young guard's first season was a slog.

Van Lith's height and injuries also did little to help her transition. At 5-foot-9, Van Lith was a smaller guard, which meant, to make an impact in the league, she'd have to either be a terrific two-way player or play much larger offensively than she did. Neither happened. The former Sky guard also had nagging ankle injuries that kept her out of the rotation throughout the year. Van Lith had offseason surgery to correct the issue, but it wasn't enough to save her from being on the roster bubble ahead of training camp.

Chicago Sky sign Natasha Cloud, waive Van Lith

Van Lith was waived when the Sky signed veteran Natasha Cloud on Monday. At 5-foot-10, Cloud is not much larger than Van Lith, but what she may lack in size, she makes up for in production on both ends of the floor.

Cloud is a 10-year WNBA veteran who spent the 2025 season with New York Liberty, averaging 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals. Before joining the Liberty, Cloud had a one-year stint with the Phoenix Mercury. Over the course of her 38 starts with Phoenix, she averaged 11.5 points, 6.9 assists and 1.4 steals and earned second-team All-Defensive honors.

Adding Cloud to the Chicago guard room provides an immediate boost. She can be added to the lineup with players like Skylar Diggins and Jacy Sheldon as part of a three-guard look (while Vandersloot and forward Azurá Stevens manage injuries), or she can be the backup to Diggins and Vandersloot, proving a steady presence on the floor. Either option helps Chicago keep momentum until its starting lineup is fully healthy.

The door is not entirely closed for Van Lith in Chicago. She could return on a developmental contract, allowing her to remain with the team and play in up to 12 games this season. If not, she'll join the slew of other high WNBA draft picks over the last few years looking to find a new home.