Van Lith rebounded for a sensational 2024-25 season at TCU. She led the Horned Frogs to the Elite Eight, their deepest NCAA event run in workforce historical past.
Van Lith averaged 17.9 factors per recreation on 45.2 p.c taking pictures and was named Large 12 Participant of the Yr.
The Sky are coming off consecutive dropping seasons for the primary time since 2017-18. Van Lith joins a very remade backcourt in Chicago.
Earlier this offseason, the Sky added guard Courtney Vandersloot and Kia Nurse in free company and purchased guards Ariel Atkins and Rebecca Allen in trades.
Vandersloot rejoined the group after two seasons with the Liberty, the place she gained the 2024 WNBA title. Vandersloot performed her first 12 seasons with the Sky, averaging 10.2 factors and 6.6 assists per recreation throughout that span (2011-22).
Nurse, a 2019 All-Star, appeared in all 40 video games (27 begins) for the Sparks in 2024 and averaged 7.6 factors per recreation.
Atkins, a five-time All-Protection workforce member, averaged 14.9 factors and 1.5 steals per recreation with the Mystics in 2024. 9-year WNBA veteran Allen solely performed in 18 video games final 12 months however is a dependable three-point menace with a profession 36.3 p.c price from deep.
Van Lith could have the chance to be taught behind Chicago’s multiyear veterans. Nonetheless, as a 3×3 girls’s basketball Olympian, she already has expertise taking part in with execs, so her curve should not be as steep as most rookies.
She might have the chance to play significant minutes for the Sky, who have already got a superb frontcourt led by Reese and fellow 2024 first-round choose Kamilla Cardoso.
The duo helped Chicago lead the league in rebounds per recreation (36.6), and Reese set the WNBA file for many rebounds (446) in a single season. The workforce’s backcourt upgrades might be what it wants to maneuver up the standings and again into the playoffs after a one-year absence.
Issues did not go as deliberate for Van Lith and Reese the final time they have been teammates. The Sky have put within the work this offseason to doubtlessly make issues a lot better for the duo on the second go round.
