Is Hailey Van Lith Playing Tonight vs LA Sparks? Chicago Injury Report and Starting 5

“Right now she is a wildly famous rebounder.” Nick Wright said regarding Angel Reese after her rivalry with Caitlin Clark was reignited in the first game when Clark fouled Reese and she was furious after that, cursing at the Fever star. But Reese is yet to walk her talk; that first game saw them blown out 93-58 by Fever and Clark grabbed a triple-double while Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds while shooting 5-14 from the field. 

The next game wasn’t any better for Sky, as they were once again dominated by the New york Liberty who sunk a record 19 three-pointers, while Reese failed to put even one basket from the field. She had 12 rebounds and 3 steals but that just accentuates what Wright was saying. Reese’s rebounds have been pretty ineffective in getting results and she is yet to prove her mettle in the 2025 season. After finishing 2nd in the rookie of the year race last year, she was expected to step up and lead this side. So far, it has not worked out for her as well as for Sky. The team under Tyler Marsh is looking disconnected and even Kamilla Cardoso is not looking at her best. 

“I think I need to be better about getting the ball inside to our posts,” the Sky coach admitted after Thursday’s loss. Marsh has his work cut out before their game against the Sparks. They have played Fever and Liberty, two of the best teams in the league and need to put some points on the board but do they have their entire squad depth to get a win against the LA Sparks?

Chicago Sky Injury Report

Sky draft pick Hailey Van Lith tweaked her ankle at some point during practice and has been nursing through her minor injury but still has played 10 minutes per game in their last two. Her ankle seems to have flared up once again, as she is reported as questionable for the game against the LA Sparks.

Chicago Sky injury report ahead of their game tomorrow against the Sparks

GAME STATUS REPORT:

Moriah Jefferson – OUT (Leg)

Hailey Van Lith – QUESTIONABLE (Ankle)@Winsidr

— Matt Cohen (@byMattCohen) May 25, 2025

It’s further bad news for Sky fans, as one of their veteran players, Moriah Jefferson, has been completely ruled out from the Sparks game with a leg injury. She has missed both of the games so far and the timeline for her return from the injury is uncertain.

With Jefferson sidelined and Van Lith a question mark, the Sky are leaning heavily on Courtney Vandersloot, whose veteran savvy has been a bright spot.

Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks: Projected starters

Chicago Sky (0-2)

Los Angeles Sparks (1-3)

What to expect: Preview & prediction

After two rough outings, the only direction for the Chicago Sky is up. To their credit, the team is in its third consecutive year of rebuilding, a process that takes time and patience. Under new head coach Tyler Marsh, the Sky are adopting a fresh system centered around offensive versatility and tempo. With a roster blending emerging young talent and seasoned veterans, the chemistry is still a work in progress. But with each game, cohesion builds, and so does the potential for a turnaround.

The LA Sparks is more to their speed, as they are also rebuilding with Kelsey Plum at their helm. The Sparks are 1-3 in their four games, with their only win coming against the new franchise, Golden State Valkyries. Arguably, they have lost against worse teams in Mercury and Lynx and even lost their rematch against the Valkyries. It’s a golden opportunity for Reese and the Sky to find some form. With two point guards in Van Lith and Jefferson likely out for the game, the workload falls on Courtney Vandersloot, whose outside-the-arc play has impressed so far. Should Van Lith play any part, her partnership with Vandersloot could prove deadly if done right.

“We’ll see that as the game comes,” Marsh has said. “We’ve loved what Hailey’s progress has been over the course of the three weeks that we’ve been together. She’s continued to be a sponge and to learn from our staff and from Courtney Vandersloot. So, we’re looking forward to big things for her.”

It remains unclear whether the coaching staff will take the risk of playing her tonight, but all signs suggest her return is more likely to come against the Phoenix Mercury. Given how the season has unfolded so far for the Sky, increased minutes seem to be on the horizon for Hailey. Even if she doesn’t see significant action in this game, her role is expected to grow as the team continues to search for reliable rotation options.

The post Is Hailey Van Lith Playing Tonight vs LA Sparks? Chicago Injury Report and Starting 5 appeared first on EssentiallySports.