For one WNBA player, being let go has turned out to be a good opportunity.

Haley Van Lith’s Journey in the WNBA

Haley Van Lith has had an impressive preseason with the Chicago Sky.

However, much like several talented players in the WNBA, she was cut after training camp. The Sky needed to make room for veteran guard Natasha Cloud, leading to the release of Van Lith, who was the No. 11 pick last year.

Being waived can sometimes turn out to be a fortuitous event in the WNBA. Take, for instance, Veronica Barton, who became one of the league’s top two-way guards with the Golden State Valkyries just two years after being let go by the Dallas Wings. Then there’s Bethnia Laney Hamilton, who transformed into an All-Star and a WNBA champion after being released in 2017. The history of players who were cut and found success elsewhere is quite extensive.

Van Lith might just be the next player to experience that kind of turnaround. After joining the Connecticut Sun on May 6, she has quickly established herself in the starting lineup. In her first five games, she’s averaged 11.2 points, 3.2 assists, a 57.5% field goal success rate, and a 53.8% success rate from three-point range.

The Sun began their season 0-5, but it’s evident that Van Lith has played a part in their development. Since taking on a starting role, she’s scored double digits in two straight games. In a recent close game against the Portland Fire, which ended in an 83-82 loss, her strategic plays almost clinched the win. With just seconds left, she made back-to-back crucial shots, including a driving layup and a step-back jumper to tie the game.

Even though Sug Sutton’s floater ultimately gave Portland the win, it was clear that Van Lith stood out as one of Connecticut’s top offensive players.

While the Sun are still seeking their first win, Van Lith shared her thoughts after the game, reflecting on their progress.

“It’s a shame that we lost this game. We could have won if we had continued to carry our heart and execute, so it’s disappointing,” she said. “But I think there’s a silver lining in the fact that we tried to improve in different ways every game. At the end of the day, we have to get across the finish line and get a win. So we can’t continue to let things slip through the cracks. We have to hold each other accountable, and I think we’ve done a good job of that between our players and our coaching staff.”

The Long Road to the WNBA for Van Lith

Before making her mark in the WNBA, Van Lith enjoyed a standout college basketball career. She spent three years at Louisville, and then had stints at LSU and TCU, making it to the Elite Eight five times. This achievement made her the first player in NCAA history to reach the Elite Eight with three different schools.

Over 172 college games, she averaged 15.2 points and 3.4 assists.

In her rookie season with the Sky, she logged about 12.4 minutes per game off the bench but struggled to find her offensive rhythm. Now, with the opportunities she has in Connecticut, it seems she’s getting the chance to shine more freely than she did in the tightly contested roster in Chicago.