For 1 WNBA guard, getting waived has been a blessing
Just a few weeks ago, Hailey Van Lith was cut by the Chicago Sky. That already looks like a blessing in disguise.
PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 18: 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. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images) | Getty Images Hailey Van Lith had a strong preseason for the Chicago Sky.
But, like many great WNBA players, that didn’t stop her from getting cut after training camp. The Sky wanted to make space for veteran guard Natasha Cloud, and Van Lith, last year’s No. 11 overall pick, was the casualty.
But getting waived has sometimes been a blessing in disguise in the WNBA. Just ask Veronica Burton, who has emerged as one of the league’s best two-way guards on the Golden State Valkyries just two years after getting waived by the Dallas Wings. Or, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who was waived in 2017 before eventually becoming an All-Star and WNBA champion.
The list of players who got cut from a final roster, only to end up thriving elsewhere, goes on and on. Van Lith might just be the next great player who got waived only to break out elsewhere eventually. The 24-year-old joined the Connecticut Sun on May 6th and has already broken into the starting lineup.