Former Louisville, LSU, and TCU star Hailey van Lith is repaying the Connecticut Sun with top drawer WNBA performances since joining the franchise
12:12 ET, 19 May 2026Updated 12:12 ET, 19 May 2026
Hailey van Lith has enjoyed a career surge in Connecticut despite the Sun’s early 2026 struggles(Image: Getty)
Hailey van Lith showed her worth to the Connecticut Sun despite the WNBA franchise starting the 2026 season 0-5.
Van Lith played her rookie season with the Sky in Chicago. The former Louisville, LSU, and TCU guard played 29 times for the Sky last year, averaging 3.5 points per game. In the offseason, the Sky waived Van Lith, who promptly joined the Sun this month.
The move has significantly increased Van Lith’s WNBA role. She has played in all five of the Sun’s 2026 games and is averaging 11.2 points. Against the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, last Friday, Van Lith scored a career-high 17 points, but the Aces still won 101-94.
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The Sun’s start to 2025 got worse on Monday night as they were beaten by the WNBA’s newest franchise, the Portland Fire. The Sun fell to a narrow 83-82 defeat as Van Lith again broke double figures in points.
Before playing her first game for the Sun, Van Lith insisted that Connecticut was the right fit for her. On an individual level, that may prove to be the case, with Van Lith taking up a starring role.
“The youthfulness of [the group], I was super excited about that. It’s trending like ‘the Young and Turnt.’ It has the ‘Young and Turnt’ vibe going,” she said.
“I love that, because I’m a passionate player. I have a lot of energy when I’m playing, so to have people to feed off of that also brings that vibe, I think that will just amplify us.”
Center Brittney Griner #42 of the Connecticut Sun reacts after Hailey Van Lith #2 made a basket during the second half of the game against the Portland Fire at Moda Center on May 18, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. (Image: Getty)
However, Van Lith warned that consistency may be the Sun’s biggest struggle this year. “With youth a lot of times, consistency is the issue,” she said.
“So, with this squad, we just have to work on putting these flashes together more often, and it’s going to take commitment and work, and focus on it and practice. I think we’ll have a great day of practice tomorrow and come with a better energy and mindset against the Storm.”
Sky head coach Tyler Marsh explained waiving Van Lith ahead of the regular season tipoff, noting it was a very tough decision for the franchise. The Sky also traded superstar Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in an effort to reshape their franchise.
“The worst part of this job and the business that we’re in is you have to have a tough conversation and make tough decisions,” Marsh had said.
Guard Hailey Van Lith #2 of the Connecticut Sun dribbles the ball up court during the first half against the Portland Fire at Moda Center on May 18, 2026, in Portland, Oregon.(Image: Getty)
“For us, unfortunately, sometimes it comes down to a numbers game, and it’s not necessarily anything that Hailey did or didn’t do. She’s another one that works incredibly hard…and is incredibly tough as well.”
Van Lith is grateful for the opportunity to live up to the expectations of her No. 11 selection in last year’s WNBA Draft. The Sun will hope to turn their fortunes around in back-to-back games against the Seattle Storm this week.
The Storm is also in a rut of its own. Seattle is 1-3 in 2026, but still one win ahead of the Sun. Meanwhile, Van Lith’s former team, the Sky, has enjoyed an early-season surge. Chicago sits 3-1 at the top of the Eastern Conference.