In the early years of the WNBA, the Houston Comets won four-consecutive titles (1997-2000), thanks in large part to the trifecta of Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson, who affectionately were known as the “Big 3”.
Fast forward 25 years later, and the Chicago Sky may be looking to follow suit by produce their own “Big 3”: Hailey Van Lith, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
On Monday, the Sky drafted Van Lith, an All-American from TCU, with the No. 11 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Her selected was preceded by that of forward Ajša Sivka of Slovenia at the No. 10 pick. With the No. 16 pick, the team added Notre Dame forward Maddy Westbeld. The Sky completed their draft night by selecting Texas A&M guard Aicha Coulibaly at No. 22.
The draftees are known for being effective scorers, fulfilling a need for new head coach Tyler Marsh, who is seeking to push the tempo while nurturing budding talent.
Van Lith, in particular, is a consistent scorer, especially at the 3-point line. She also is a playmaker with a depth of experience at different levels of the game. “Hailey Van Lith made an impact on multiple contending teams across her collegiate and international career, and we expect her winning ability to translate,” Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a draft night statement. “We’re excited to add her talent and versatility to the Sky.”
Van Lith also is reuniting with her former LSU teammate Angel Reese, as the two were teammates during the 2023-24 season. Van Lith also played against Cardoso, who was at South Carolina, during her season at LSU.
The hype surrounding the three is palpable. The combination of their skills and potential could spark the Sky into championship contention territory in the years ahead.
Van Lith possesses the ability to be able to score from all over the floor. She can also get to the rim and score on taller defenders, and if fouled, she is known for being a consistent free throw shooter. She also thrives in pick-and-roll situations, which should do wonders for both Reese and Cardoso, allowing them to score with ease in the paint. Van Lith can also help out on the boards. Though it is not her strongest asset, she can contribute on the glass when necessary; Van Lith averaged 4.1 rebounds over the course of 173 college games, grabbing 6.1 rebounds per game with TCU in her final college season.
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Reese, obviously, is known for her prowess in the paint and ability to rebound. She is coming off a rookie season in which she set rookie records for double-doubles and rebounds per game. Marsh has made a concerted effort to work on developing Reese as a player who can score from all areas of the floor. Cardoso finished last season making the WNBA All-Rookie Team with Reese. She showed considerable promise, but was derailed by injuries and underutilization in her role. But when healthy and prioritized, she can be a vital presence in the paint.
Together, the three can eventually become a versatile scoring-and-rebounding triple threat.
The Sky are coming off a 13-27 season in which they fell short of the playoffs due to injuries to key talent. After the season, the organization abruptly departed with then-head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. Chicago has been looking to chart a new course since their 2021 championship. Since then, they have experienced a revolving door, with the coming and going of players and coaches leaving the franchise in a state of uncertainty.
But could a new “Big 3” help turn things around? Time will tell, but the potential is there.
