Former LSU and TCU standout Hailey Van Lith fell to the Chicago Sky at No. 11 in Monday’s draft. During her press conference on Thursday, Van Lith said she hoped a few teams would pass over her so she could join the sky.
“Deep in my heart, I wanted to come to the Sky,” said Van Lith during her introductory press conference on Thursday. “I felt like they saw who I was as a player, and I felt valued. I was hoping that I was available when Chicago’s picks came.”
Introductory Press Conference: Hailey Van Lith, Aicha Coulibaly, Maddy Westbeld https://t.co/XkPHH8mMQ7
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) April 17, 2025
Chicago Sky rookie set to take pay decrease
While Chicago may have been Van Lith’s preferred destination, falling to No. 11 has its pitfalls. Per Spotrac, picks No. 1-4 receive four-year contracts worth $348,198, and picks 4-8 receive $334,115. 9-12 will earn $320,040 over the next four seasons.
Van Lith is set to make $80,010 per year in the WNBA. Last season, Angel Reese signed a four-year deal worth $324,383 after the Sky took her with the No. 7 pick. Reese makes an average of $81,096 per season.
Van Lith is taking a decrease to play in the WNBA compared to what she made in college. Per College Football Network, her NIL valuation was $779,000.
Angel Reese wants to get WNBA players paid
Reese plans to get her WNBA colleagues raises during the next College Bargaining Agreement negotiation period set for after the upcoming season.
“They ain’t got the money for us just yet, but it’s coming,” Reese recently said on her podcast “Unapologetically Angel. “It’s coming. It’s a lot that goes into it. But it’s coming. Trust me, it’s coming.”
It might be coming for Van Lith years down the road.
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