Sky waive guard Hailey Van Lith
The Sky waived point guard Hailey Van Lith, the team announced Monday.
The Sky selected Van Lith with the No. 11 pick in the 2025 draft, but she struggled in her rookie season, averaging 3.5 points in 12.4 minutes per game.
She spent the offseason rehabbing an ankle injury that hampered her first year. She did score 20 points in her first preseason game against the Mercury — going 8-for-8 from the field — but most of her playing time came against Mercury reserves.
"Sometimes it comes down to a numbers game," coach Tyler Marsh said. "It's not necessarily anything that Hailey did or didn't do. She works hard. She battled through injuries throughout this last year. She competes, she's coachable, she's great in the locker room. There's a bright future for her in this league."
To get Van Lith, the Sky effectively surrendered the No. 11 pick in the 2026 draft (Cotie McMahon) to the Lynx. They also passed on guards Aziaha James (No. 12) and Te-Hina Paopao (No. 16) in the 2025 draft, who are both making significant impacts with the Wings and Dream, respectively.
Van Lith could still qualify for one of the team's two development spots, but first she must clear waivers, meaning no other team claims her contract in the next 48 hours. ESPN reported she's in active discussions with other teams.
With the addition of Natasha Cloud, the Sky's roster now stands at 14 players. Second-year forward Maddy Westbeld and rookies Aicha Coulibaly and Sydney Taylor will compete for the final spot.
Final rosters are due May 7, and the Sky open the regular season against the Fire on May 9.
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