The Chicago Sky had one of the worst seasons in history this year. Of course, the previous year was the ultimate worst by numbers. But this year too, things didn’t seem to change much. Despite some exceptionally improved performances from Angel Reese, the team just could not find a way to get into the winning ways. Adding to the woes of the Sky, Reese’s recent outburst against her teammates plunged the team into despair. Things got so heated that Reese was rumored to be parting ways with Chicago. However, Reese was not the only concern for Sky. Injuries to star players, such as Hailey Van Lith, played a crucial role in Sky’s downfall.
Throughout the season, the Sky has been suffering from injuries. Be it Reese’s back or Van Lith’s ankle, the team suffered significantly due to the absence of their crucial players. Now, as Van Lith is on her way to recovery, she has shared an emotional update.
Hailey Van Lith En Route Towards Ankle Recovery
Van Lith joined the Chicago Sky team with high expectations. Coming in as a rookie, it was the perfect opportunity for her to showcase her talents and make a name for herself. Unfortunately, with her lingering ankle injury disrupting the rhythm, the 24-year-old had a quiet season. Now, as a new season is coming up, the Sky Guard has revealed some interesting updates about her ongoing rehabilitation.
Van Lith recently took to her Instagram and uploaded a story. In the picture, she could be seen lying on a hospital bed with her ankle wrapped in a cast. With her father, Corey Van Lith, by her side, the WNBA star captioned the post, “Not my will but His! Time to get the ankle right!”
Hailey Van Lith reveals her latest surgery. The Chicago Sky guard dealt with a nagging ankle issue all season long. pic.twitter.com/QzTKaTrYuC
— Kit Espina (@KeithEspino22) October 10, 2025
Surely, the 24-year-old would have wanted more action from her rookie season. After all, she had only played 29 games, as her game time was hindered several times due to her ankle injury. However, Van Lith did show some promise as she shone brightly in Sky’s 78-66 win against the Connecticut Sun. The rookie star dropped 16 points and five rebounds. Meanwhile, as head coach Tyler Marsh held hopes for Van Lith’s return, the rookie star opened up on her bench role.
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
Hailey Van Lith Detailed Her Struggles As She Took To The Bench
Van Lith came in as the 11th overall pick in 2025. Unfortunately, trying to make a mark, Van Lith and Sky, both faltered badly. While injuries were one of the key reasons for Chicago’s downfall, another big factor was inconsistent performances from the players. It was due to this reason that a frustrated Angel Reese lashed out and asked the front office to incorporate more quality players. Meanwhile, as Van Lith was given a bench role, she did not hesitate opening up about her struggles.
“I’ve never came off the bench in my career. And so learning how to change my mindset to be able to do that and still be myself and still impact the team and help the team win, and like the different ways that I can contribute to culture and winning habits that don’t necessarily mean that I’m always on the floor. So it’s still going on. I’m still going through the process,” Hailey Van Lith told Renee Montgomery back in August 2025.
Thus, it is evident that the Chicago Sky’s woes are far from over. As the new season approaches, fans will be eager to see how the story unfolds.