Haley Van Lith Returns to Connecticut Sun

Haley Van Lith is making her way back to the Connecticut Sun, just days after being released.

This high school prodigy turned college standout was unexpectedly let go by the Chicago Sky following her rookie season, which began with her being the No. 11 pick in the 2025 draft.

Van Lith had a solid run in her nine games, so the release was a bit of a shock. Yet, she quickly secured a new spot with the Sun, who are currently sitting at 2 wins and 8 losses, signing a developmental contract that allows for her growth.

Interestingly, this year’s WNBA developmental players have a setup akin to the NBA’s two-way players.

In the NBA, two-way players earn the lowest salaries, are limited to 50 game appearances, and can’t participate in the playoffs. For WNBA developmental players, they can play in just 12 games, which represents about 25 percent of the current 48-game season.

That limitation doesn’t count the nine games Van Lith already played while on a standard contract.

During her time with the Sun, she averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 assists per game, boasting an impressive shooting percentage of 49.2 from the field and 47.1 from three-point range. She even started three games, achieving her best performance against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, where she scored a career-high 17 points.

That notable game was on May 15; in that match, she made 7 out of 11 shots and also recorded 4 assists.

Van Lith was a standout in the 2020 recruiting class, joining talents like Paige Backers, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Kaitlyn Clark, and Camila Cardoso.

After three years at Louisville and a season at LSU, where they didn’t quite make it past the Elite Eight against Clark and Iowa, she spent her final college year at TCU. There, she averaged 17.9 points and 5.4 assists per game.

Fans have mixed feelings about her release. One fan expressed a laid-back attitude, saying, “I don’t know, but anything is fine.” Another noted that she had played better than most of the Sun’s current roster, even though the team has faced challenges this season.

It’s worth mentioning that this will be the last season for the Sun in Connecticut, as the franchise plans to move to Houston for the 2027 season. The city was home to the Comets, one of the original WNBA teams, which won the first four titles from 1997 to 2000 before disbanding in 2008.