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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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Just days prior to making her WNBA debut, Chicago Sky rookie guard Hailey Van Lith is making a splash with her inaugural appearance in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue as its April digital cover star.
The 5-foot-7 pro, wearing Frankies Bikinis threads, was photographed by Taylor Ballantyne in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Already an Olympic bronze medalist thanks to her play for Team USA's 3 vs. 3 squad at the 2024 Paris games, Van Lith concluded a terrific NCAA career with a final season starring in the Big 12 for Texas Christian University.
Her 663 points and 202 assists in 2024-25 represented single-season records for TCU. She was named the Big 12 Player of the Year. She guided the Longhorns to the Final Four in this spring's NCAA Tournament.
An Associated Press All-American Third Teamer this past collegiate season, Van Lith averaged 17.9 points on .452/.338/.827 shooting splits, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per bout.
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Van Lith had previously played for Louisville and LSU. All told, she has made the Elite Eight five times and has been named to three All-Academic teams.
She was selected by the Sky with the No. 11 pick in last month's 2025 WNBA Draft. She'll join former LSU teammate Angel Reese, an All-Star power forward for Chicago last season, plus second-year center Kamilla Cardoso (a 2024 college champ on the 38-0 South Carolina Gamecocks) and returning five-time All-Star point guard Courtney Vandersloot, now the last vestige of the Sky's 2021 championship roster.
Three-time All-ACC Notre Dame forward Maddy Westbeld was the Sky's No. 16 pick in the second round among this year's rookie slate for Chicago.
Fresh off claiming her first NCAA championship with the University of Connecticut Huskies, three-time unanimous All-American First Team point guard Paige Bueckers was selected with the top pick in the draft by the Dallas Wings.
Van Lith will make her Sky regular season debut against reigning Rookie of the Year point guard Caitlin Clark and the rest of the Indiana Fever on Saturday. The action will tip off at 2 p.m. CT, and is slated to be broadcast on ABC.
Under first-year head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, last year's Sky club went 13-27 and finished below the playoffs. Former title-winning Las Vegas Aces assistant coach/head of player development Tyler Marsh has replaced Weatherspoon on the sideline for Chicago.
More WNBA News:
WNBA Announces Bold Changes Ahead for 2025 Season
Dallas Wings Surprisingly Win WNBA Draft Lottery With Paige Bueckers as Top Prospect
For the latest WNBA and Chicago Sky news, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.
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