As the teams are shaping up ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, there have been several tough decisions taken by franchises. One of the teams that is desperate to turn things around is undoubtedly the Chicago Sky. Having lost their prime star, Angel Reese, to the Atlanta Dream, the Sky is eager to put together a strong roster.
After all, for the past couple of seasons, Chicago has been unable to perform according to expectations. Thus, this time around, the front office is not shying away from testing different permutations and combinations. In one such development, Hailey Van Lith was waived from the team.
Tyler Marsh Stresses On ‘Tough Decisions’ Following Hailey Van Lith’s Waiver
Natasha Cloud, for a long time, remained an unsigned agent in the WNBA. Thankfully, recent reports came in that Chicago decided to end its search for a new team. Signing her to a $555k contract, the Sky roster got a significant boost. Sadly, Cloud’s signing came at a cost. Instead, the Sky front office decided to part ways with Van Lith. And that was not an easy decision to take for the management.
Reflecting on the same, head coach Marsh said, “The worst part of this job and the business that we’re in is you have to have, a tough conversation and make tough decisions. For us, unfortunately, sometimes it comes down to a numbers game and it’s not necessarily anything that, that Hailey did or didn’t do.”
Tyler Marsh on releasing Hailey Van Lith
— Moreau Sports Media Prod Co. (@MoreauSportsCo) May 4, 2026
"The worst part of this job and the business that we're in is you have to have, a tough conversation and make tough decisions.
For us, unfortunately, sometimes it comes down to a numbers game and it's not necessarily anything that,… pic.twitter.com/6q8tb9f4o1
The Sky head coach further added, “She’s another one that works incredibly hard….is incredibly tough as well. She battled through some injuries throughout this last year and some change…but she competes…she’s coachable….She’s great in the locker room. So there’s a bright future for her in this league, whether it’s in Chicago or elsewhere.”
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Surely, this would be an interesting prospect for the fans to watch out for. Last season, Cloud was playing for the New York Liberty. Suiting up in 41 games, the former Liberty star dropped averages of 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
Meanwhile, with Van Lith now a free agent, her future looks questionable.
How Could Hailey Van Lith’s 2026 Season Turn Out?
Van Lith was a prized draft pick for the Sky. Roping her in as the 11th overall pick, she came in with a lot of hype. During her college days at Louisville, the star player was a popular hooper and also had a NIL deal to boast. Looking at her rookie campaign last year, Van Lith was quite impressive.
Back in 2025, the 24-year-old played in 29 games. She averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. The youngster also created a lot of buzz owing to her high-profile relationship with NBA star Jalen Suggs. However, despite being without a team at the moment, Van Lith is expected to find alternative options before the season commences on May 8.