Hailey Van Lith Drafted by Chicago Sky, Goes Viral for Her ‘Miserable’ Look at Empire State Building

Hailey Van Lith is officially headed to the WNBA after being selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 draft. The standout guard, who recently helped TCU reach its first-ever Elite Eight, now reunites with her former LSU teammate Angel Reese in Chicago. The Sky also picked Ajsa Sivka of Slovenia at No. 10, rounding out a promising trio of rookies.

Before the big night, draft invitees gathered at the Empire State Building for a group photo, capturing what should have been a joyous moment. However, Van Lith’s noticeably unhappy expression sparked buzz online — quickly going viral.

A host on ESPN’s SportsCenter remarked, “I’ve never seen someone as miserable and downtrodden at the Empire State Building as Hailey Van Lith.” That clip and others like it racked up millions of views, prompting fans to flood the comment section with humorous takes.

From jokes about her reuniting with Reese to playful speculation about her mood, social media had a field day. Comments like “Why HVL so mad” and “HVL looks like she got yelled at before the pic ” made the rounds on TikTok.

When asked about the moment during WNBA Countdown, Van Lith said she didn’t even remember it happening — jokingly calling it “a red flag.”

As she gears up for training camp starting April 28, all eyes will be on how Van Lith transitions into her pro career. Her debut could come as early as May 17, when the Sky face the Indiana Fever.