By John "Woods" Armwood III
The 2025 WNBA Draft took place on Monday night in the Mecca of entertainment, and among the standout moments was Hailey Van Lith’s selection by the Chicago Sky with the No. 11 overall pick. The journey of Van Lith, who starred at TCU after stints at Louisville and LSU, has been scrutinized, debated, and, at times, misunderstood. But on draft night, she silenced the noise with grace, maturity, and clarity of purpose.
In the post-draft media scrum, Van Lith addressed the “revenge tour” narrative that had followed her throughout her college career:
"Yeah, I think really in my eyes," Van Lith stated. "It shows that I didn’t care enough to call it a revenge tour. Nothing ever happened in the past or the events that took place at previous schools that hit me deep enough to where I felt like I had to get my lick back or any of that. The Lord put me in situations that I needed to go through to grow as a basketball player and a human being, and that’s not something that I was never mad about."
"I accepted that. I worked out with my sports psychologist. We understood together, like, ‘Hailey, this is something you can grow from.’ This is an experience you should embrace—you should run toward it. So, I think what it says about me is really that I didn’t care. That was not something keeping me from sleeping at night. And that shows somebody who really believes in themselves."
Van Lith's Confidence Never Dwindles
Her message was one of self-belief, grounded in faith, reflection, and emotional intelligence. It wasn’t about proving anyone wrong—it was about proving herself right.
Van Lith's current and former coaches echoed her sentiments, highlighting her resilience and growth.
“Hailey is one of the most mentally tough athletes I’ve ever coached,” said TCU Head Coach Mark Campbell. “She never backed down from the criticism or the spotlight. What people don’t see is the hours she put in behind closed doors—working on her game, but also on herself. She didn’t want revenge; she wanted evolution.”
“People talked about her transferring like it was a weakness, but what I saw was someone chasing the right fit,” said former LSU assistant coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson. “She’s fearless. And I’ve never doubted that she’d end up right where she belongs.”
As she embarks on her WNBA career, Van Lith remains laser-focused on the road ahead, not the roads she left behind.
“At the end of the day, the next level is all about who believes they can,” she said. “If I can carry that belief with me, I think I’m setting myself up for success.”
With Chicago looking to rebuild and reload, Van Lith could become a key figure in the franchise's future. And if her journey thus far is any indication, she’s not here for revenge. She’s here for redemption, growth, and greatness.
Follow Hailey Van Lith’s journey with the Chicago Sky this WNBA season as she turns doubters into believers—not with words, but with work.