Hailey Van Lith

Who Is Hailey Van Lith?

Hailey Ann Van Lith (born September 9, 2001) is an American professional basketball guard. She currently plays for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 155–157 lbs.

Over the course of her five-year college career, Van Lith totaled 2,616 points, 698 rebounds, 579 assists, and 222 steals. Her 172 career games played — all of which are starts — and 5,692 career minutes played are both Division I women’s college basketball records.

Furthermore, she is the first player in Division I history to reach the NCAA Elite Eight with three different schools. On the international stage, she is a seven-time FIBA medalist and a 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medalist. Because of these achievements, Hailey Van Lith stands as one of the defining figures of her generation.

Early Life: A Basketball Family in Washington State

Born and Raised in Wenatchee

Van Lith was born in Wenatchee, Washington, to Jessica and Corey Van Lith. She grew up in the nearby town of Cashmere, Washington — a small, tight-knit community nestled in the Wenatchee Valley.

Van Lith comes from a sports-loving family. Her father, Corey Van Lith, played baseball and basketball at the University of Puget Sound and has been instrumental in shaping her basketball career.

She credits her father with teaching her to be a tough, fiery player. She grew up around the game of basketball and would often practice with her brother’s basketball team, which her father coached. Therefore, basketball was not just a sport in the Van Lith household. It was a way of life.

She also has one brother named Tanner, who played baseball at Big Bend Community College.

High School Career: Washington’s All-Time Leading Scorer

Van Lith played four years of basketball at Cashmere High School in Cashmere, Washington, under head coach Brent Darnell.

Her high school numbers were extraordinary. Over her high school career, Van Lith scored a total of 2,994 points, setting the record for girls’ high school basketball in Washington state. She led the state in scoring during multiple seasons, including averages of 34.4 points per game as a junior and 33.8 points per game as a senior.

She broke every major school record before her senior year, including single-game records for points (52) and three-point field goals made (12).

In her junior season, Van Lith led Cashmere to a third-place finish at the Class 1A state tournament, where she was named MVP. She later led Cashmere to the Class 1A state title game, where she recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds, and seven steals in a 45–44 upset loss to Mount Baker Senior High.

By graduation, she was named a McDonald’s All-American and Washington Ms. Basketball (2020). She was, without question, the most dominant high school player in Washington state history.

College Career: Three Schools, One Historic Legacy

Louisville Cardinals (2020–2023)

Van Lith began her collegiate career at Louisville, where she played three seasons.

As a freshman in 2020–21, she earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors. She was an immediate impact player. In her sophomore year, she was named to the First-Team All-ACC. She repeated that honor in her junior year.

Across her three seasons at Louisville, Van Lith compiled an average of 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on 42.2% shooting from the field. She had 31 games in which she scored 20 or more points.

In her junior season, she scored 20 or more points in each of Louisville’s four 2023 NCAA Tournament games. She was named 2023 NCAA Wichita Regional Most Outstanding Player. Louisville reached the Final Four that year.

Van Lith graduated from the University of Louisville in three years with a degree in finance. This achievement was remarkable. She earned a bachelor’s degree while competing at an elite level — and she was not finished academically.

LSU Tigers (2023–2024)

On April 27, 2023, Van Lith announced that she would transfer to reigning national champion LSU.

In her one season with the Tigers, Van Lith averaged 11.6 points per game while helping the team to a 31–6 record. LSU reached the Elite Eight that year. Van Lith became the first player in Division I history to reach the Elite Eight with two different schools.

On August 16, 2024, she graduated from LSU with a master’s degree. Two degrees. Two universities. One remarkable scholar-athlete.

TCU Horned Frogs (2024–2025): A Historic Final Season

In April 2024, Hailey Van Lith transferred to Texas Christian University for her final collegiate season.

The results were historic. She averaged 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 45.2% from the field, earning unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 first team and Big 12 Player of the Year honors.

She broke TCU’s single-season records for points scored (683) and assists (204). She was also named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Big 12 Tournament MVP — the first TCU player ever to win Big 12 Player of the Year.

Van Lith was named Big 12 Player of the Year and led TCU to its first Big 12 titles in both the regular season and conference tournament.

Additionally, TCU reached the Elite Eight in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This made Van Lith the first player in Division I history to reach the Elite Eight with three different schools — Louisville, LSU, and TCU.

She is the only active Division I women’s player who has accumulated at least 1,900 career points, 500 career rebounds, and 350 career assists.

International Career: A Global Force for Team USA

Youth Dominance

Hailey Van Lith did not just dominate college basketball. She dominated on the world stage from a very young age.

Van Lith debuted for Team USA as a 16-year-old. She helped the United States win gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in the 3×3 tournament.

She also won gold at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, the 2019 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup, and the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup. Moreover, she was named MVP of the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Cup.

Senior Level: World Cup Gold and Olympic Bronze

Van Lith won five gold medals and two additional medals across seven FIBA tournaments.

Her senior international breakthrough came in 2023. She helped secure gold at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, contributing to a gold medal victory after defeating France 16–12 in the final.

The 2024 Paris Olympics

Van Lith was named to the 2024 USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s Olympic Team and participated in the team’s training camp in Springfield, Massachusetts.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, she helped secure a bronze medal in the women’s 3×3 basketball event. She led her team with 47 total points in the tournament, averaging 5.2 points per game.

The U.S. team famously started the tournament 0–3 before rebounding to claim the bronze medal. Van Lith led the charge. It was a display of the toughness and resilience that define her career.

Professional Career: Chicago Sky (2025–Present)

The 2025 WNBA Draft

Van Lith was selected by the Chicago Sky with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, held on April 14, 2025.

The pick reflected the Sky’s investment in her defensive tenacity and playmaking ability, acquired via a trade that included sending a 2026 first-round pick to the Minnesota Lynx.

WNBA Rookie Season

On May 17, 2025, Van Lith made her WNBA debut late in the fourth quarter of the Sky’s 93–58 loss to the Indiana Fever, recording four points in four minutes of play.

Hailey Van Lith played her rookie WNBA season with the Chicago Sky in 2025, appearing in 29 of the team’s 40 regular-season games. She averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in her debut season.

As a rookie adapting to the professional game, her best basketball clearly lies ahead. Her work ethic, leadership experience, and elite competitive background make her one of the most promising young guards in the WNBA.

Personal Life: Beyond the Court

Academic Achievements

Van Lith graduated from the University of Louisville in three years with a degree in finance. In her junior year, she was named a second-team Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators. On August 16, 2024, she graduated from LSU with a master’s degree.

She is not finished. Hailey Van Lith has plans to enroll in law school while pursuing a professional basketball career in the WNBA. She hopes to specialize in contract law and utilize her bachelor’s degree in finance.

Private but Present

Hailey Van Lith maintains a relatively private personal life. However, her social media presence — particularly on Instagram at @haileyvanlith — keeps fans connected to her journey both on and off the court.

She is represented by ICONA agency on the professional side.

Career Statistics at a Glance

College Career Averages

Season	School	PPG	RPG	APG	FG%
2020–21	Louisville	11.2	5.2	2.1	—
2021–22	Louisville	14.4	3.6	2.2	—
2022–23	Louisville	19.7	4.5	3.2	—
2023–24	LSU	11.6	—	3.6	—
2024–25	TCU	17.9	4.6	5.4	45.2%
Career	—	15.2	4.1	3.4	42.2%

WNBA Career Stats

Season	Team	G	PPG	RPG	APG
2025	Chicago Sky	29	3.5	1.1	1.6

Awards and Career Honors

High School

• Washington Ms. Basketball (2020)
• McDonald’s All-American (2020)
• Washington State All-Time Leading Scorer (Girls) — 2,994 points

College

• WBCA Coaches’ All-American (2025)
• AP & USBWA Third-Team All-American (2025)
• Big 12 Player of the Year (2025)
• Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (2025)
• Big 12 Tournament MVP (2025)
• First-Team All-Big 12 (2025)
• 2× First-Team All-ACC (2022, 2023)
• ACC All-Freshman Team (2021)
• 2023 NCAA Wichita Regional Most Outstanding Player
• TCU Single-Season Records: Points (683) and Assists (204)
• Division I Records: Games Started (172) and Minutes Played (5,692)

International

• Olympic Bronze Medal — 2024 Paris (3×3 Women’s Basketball)
• FIBA 3×3 World Cup Gold Medal — 2023 (Vienna, Austria)
• FIBA U19 World Cup Gold Medal — 2019
• FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup Gold Medal & MVP — 2019
• Youth Olympic Games Gold Medal — 2018 (Argentina, 3×3)
• FIBA U17 World Cup Gold Medal — 2018
• 7× FIBA Medalist | 5× FIBA Gold Medalist