Hailey Van Lith’s path from being cut by the Chicago Sky to starting for the Connecticut Sun has been fast and surprising, and it unfolded in games against teams like the Portland Fire and in a dressing room with veterans such as Natasha Cloud. This piece follows her preseason rise in Chicago, the Sky’s roster choice that left her off the final roster, her quick signing with the Sun on May 6, and the early impact she has had in Connecticut through five games and a clutch finish in an 83-82 loss in Portland.

Van Lith impressed in Chicago’s preseason, but the Sky chose to clear a spot for veteran guard Natasha Cloud and waived the 2025 first-round pick. That cut is familiar territory in the WNBA, where roster limits force teams to make painful choices. For some players, release becomes the start of a new chapter instead of the end.

The WNBA has examples of players who bounced back after being waived and then thrived elsewhere, including Veronica Burton and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Burton went from being let go by the Dallas Wings to developing into a top two-way guard with the Golden State Valkyries. Laney-Hamilton was waived in 2017 and later became an All-Star and champion, showing that early setbacks can lead to major comebacks.

Van Lith signed with the Connecticut Sun on May 6 and broke into the starting lineup quickly, averaging 11.2 points and 3.2 assists through five games while shooting 57.5 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from three. Those numbers suggest a player who has found a clearer role and more freedom to create than she saw in Chicago, where guard depth limited her opportunities. The Sun have struggled to a 0-5 start, but Van Lith’s scoring and efficiency are a bright spot.

In Monday’s 83-82 game in Portland, Van Lith nearly won it in the final minute, sinking a driving layup with 46 seconds left and a stepback jumper with 31 seconds left that tied the game. A Sug Sutton floater eventually decided the outcome, but Van Lith’s late-game composure stood out as one of Connecticut’s most reliable offensive options down the stretch. Those endgame plays speak to a player who is growing comfortable in pressure moments.

After the Portland loss Van Lith spoke about progress and the need to finish games, saying, “It sucks to lose this game, because we could have won it if we had stayed within ourselves and executed, so it’s disappointing, but I do think there’s an underlying silver lining to where we’ve made improvements at different things every game,” . The quote captures a mix of disappointment and realism, and it highlights a locker room trying to build consistency at both ends of the floor. Accountability among players and coaches surfaced as a theme in her remarks.

HAILEY VAN LITH CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/Yrsi7T7DVM

— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) May 19, 2026

Van Lith’s journey to the professional ranks was a long one, built on a highly visible college career that stretched across Louisville, LSU, and TCU. She reached the NCAA Elite Eight five straight seasons, a unique feat completed across three different programs, and that durability under big-stage pressure is part of what teams value. Over 172 collegiate games she averaged 15.2 points and 3.4 assists, numbers that show steady production and the ability to contribute in multiple ways.

Her rookie season in Chicago saw limited minutes, roughly 12.4 per game off the bench, and she never fully found a rhythm there. In Connecticut she has a clearer window to carve out a role, and early returns suggest she may exploit that opportunity. If the Sun can convert improved performances into wins, Van Lith’s emergence could be a key storyline for a team trying to right its start to the season.