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2025 WNBA Draft: Angel Reese reacts to reuniting with Hailey Van Lith with Chicago Sky

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•04/14/25•

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Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith LSU
Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith LSU

Hailey Van Lith is off the board at the 2025 WNBA Draft, heading to the Chicago Sky after being taken with the No. 11 overall pick. While it might be a new team for Van Lith, there will be a familiar face waiting for her in the Windy City.

Just a year ago, the Sky selected Angel Reese in the first round out of LSU. Van Lith came back to college for another season with TCU but now, she reconnects with Reese in Chicago.

Moments after the pick was made, Reese gave her action to Van Lith joining the Sky. The WNBA Rookie of the Year runner-up seems ecstatic. After working well together in Baton Rouge, they will “run it back” at the professional level.

“We ain’t do it right the first time,” Reese said via X. “Let’s run it backkkkk.”

LSU had Reese and Van Lith on their roster during the 2023-2024 season. Reese was the team’s leading rebounder, going for 18.6 points and 13.4 boards per game. She was named second-team All-American by the AP.

Van Lith did not have her best overall season, averaging 11.6 points and just 3.6 assists per game. While neither were career lows, both stats were just ahead of her true freshman season at Louisville. Likely not what LSU and Kim Mulkey thought they were getting from Van Lith out of the NCAA transfer portal.

Even so, there was a lot of team success during the ’23-24 season. LSU followed up its national championship with a run to the Elite Eight. They were just one win away from a back-to-back Final Four appearance, something the program had not done since a streak beginning in 2004 and spanning to 2008.

Reese saying “We ain’t do it right the first time,” likely references LSU falling short of making the Final Four or not winning the national championship. The goal in Chicago will to bring another WNBA title to the city, something they have done in recent years.

Last season was the first time in five campaigns that the Sky did not make a playoff appearance. They stumbled to a 13-27 record, the franchise’s second-ever worst winning percentage behind the inaugural 2006 season.

Bringing back two teammates can hopefully get Chicago back on the right track. Reese is certainly excited to be back with Van Lith, pulling from the one season together in purple and gold.