Angel Reese Says She Urged Sky GM to Take Hailey Van Lith in 2025 WNBA Draft

Angel Reese vouched for former LSU teammate Haily Van Lith when the Chicago Sky were making the 11th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Reese explained she told Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca throughout the pre-draft process "if you want a dog" that Van Lith is the player to select.

Reese and Van Lith played together on the 2023-24 LSU squad that advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to Caitlin Clark and Iowa.

Van Lith, the team's starting point guard, led the Tigers with 3.6 assists per game in 33 appearances.

After Reese left school for the WNBA following that season, Van Lith transferred to TCU for her final year of college eligibility. She turned in the best year of her career for a Horned Frogs team that was one of the most pleasant surprises in the country.

Van Lith led TCU in scoring average (17.9 points per game), assists (5.4), steals (1.2) and shot a career-high 45.2 percent from the field. The Horned Frogs shattered the program record with 34 wins, nine more than their previous high mark.

The performance from Van Lith earned her Big 12 Player of the Year honors and a spot on the All-American third team. She is joining a Chicago backcourt that already features Ariel Atkins, Courtney Vandersloot and Rachel Banham.

Van Lith's pre-established chemistry with Reese should make her transition to the pro game easier. The Sky will be counting on her as a driving force offensively after they averaged the second-fewest points per game last season.

The new-look Sky with Van Lith, Reese and first-year head coach Tyler Marsh will tipoff the 2025 season on Saturday against Clark and the Indiana Fever.