Hailey Van Lith: 2025 Forth Worth, Texas

Hailey Van Lith fulfilled a lifelong dream Monday night when she was picked in the WNBA Draft.

Van Lith, coming off an outstanding season at TCU, was drafted by the Chicago Sky with the 11th overall pick of the first round. The Sky took Slovenian power forward Ajsa Sivka with the 10th pick before calling Van Lith’s name. Chicago later added Notre Dame power forward Maddy Westbeld and Texas A&M shooting guard Aicha Coulibaly in the second round.

ESPN cameras and those in attendance captured Van Lith’s reaction to getting picked. After hugging her parents, she eventually made her way over to boyfriend Jalen Suggs’ table.

Van Lith and the Orlando Magic guard have been together for a while, and Suggs was seen supporting the 5-foot-9 point guard in the crowd during the NCAA Tournament.

The two have been relatively quiet about their relationship publicly, but Van Lith spoke about it on the orange carpet before tonight’s draft and obviously, the kiss also gives it away.

 

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Suggs, who was a first-round pick of the Magic out of Gonzaga in 2021, averaged a career-high 16.2 points per game this season but was limited to 35 games by back and knee injuries. Suggs has not played since late January and was ruled out for the season in early March.

As he continues his offseason rehab, he’ll have the chance to watch his girlfriend begin her professional career this summer. The Sky will open up the 2025 WNBA season against the Indiana Fever on May 17.

With Chicago, Van Lith will be reunited with Angel Reese. The two played together at LSU during the 2023-24 season.

While the Tigers made the Elite Eight that year, Van Lith struggled in head coach Kim Mulkey’s system, which resulted in her transferring to TCU for her final college season.

ALBANY, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Tigers reacts with Hailey Van Lith #11 of the LSU Tigers in a game against the UCLA Bruins during the second half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 30, 2024 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

ALBANY, NEW YORK – MARCH 30: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Tigers reacts with Hailey Van Lith #11 of the LSU Tigers in a game against the UCLA Bruins during the second half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 30, 2024 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

“We ain’t do it right the first time. Let’s run it backkkkk,” Reese tweeted tonight after Van Lith was picked.

It will be interesting to see what kind of role Van Lith carves out in her rookie season.

On paper, it seems likely she’ll slot in behind veterans Ariel Atkins, Courtney Vandersloot and Kia Nurse as a bench option for the Sky.